Carrara: According to Caffaz, culture should be systematized. But there has been time.... !

Finally Carrara had a noteworthy artistic event. We are talking about Carrara Studi Aperti, which took place on May 31 and June 1: it was an event in which artists working in the city opened their studios and workshops to the public. We at Finestre sull’Arte were unfortunately unable to attend as we were in Castiglion Fiorentino for #CastiglioniLive: however, some of the artists who opened their studios are friends of ours, so we were able to know that the city participated enthusiastically in the event. The people of Carrara were able to see up close where the artists work, in some cases they were able to witness part of the creative process of the work, in short they were able to get a real idea of what it means to be an artist nowadays. A fine event, which was much needed and which we hope can be replicated.

The positive thing about this event also lies in the fact that it was a grassroots event: without the support of institutions, without official proclamations, without lofty partnerships, without patronage. And the institutions, as was easily predictable, downplayed it. It is enough to read the words of the president of the Academy of Fine Arts, Simone Caffaz, given in an interview to the Tirreno, to realize this: “open studies promoted, but alone they are not enough: a systematization of cultural events is necessary.” I would like to remind Dr. Caffaz of one thing. Namely, that the current municipal administration has been governing the fortunes of Carrara for seven years. I would say that time for “a systematization of cultural events,” there has been enough. There are three cases: either the city administration has been incapable of serious and effective cultural programming, or culture has never been part of the administration’s interests, or, third way, the chronic lack of funds has prevented a “systemization.” Yet, given the nonchalance with which the city administration has spent and spent on the most disparate events (for example, the 2010 Giro d’Italia stage - 100,000 euros, the Casanova magician show last year - 20,000 euros, the megabuffet at the 2008 Biennale - 10.000 euros, and that’s just to name the first ones that come to mind), an alien who happened to be in town might almost think that Carrara is rolling in gold, given the propensity to splurge on events that bring dubious returns and, even if there were any, would be entirely ephemeral. But if the usual alien were to stop for a while longer, he would understand that in reality little money is flowing in Carrara, and rather than investing in long-term programming, one prefers to dissipate what little one has on hand in “big events” that last for one or two days and that one does not really know what or who they are for.

The result of this inability or unwillingness to plan and attract visitors has since resulted in a bleak agony: the town has almost no businesses left, some of the most beautiful and ancient streets in Carrara’s historic center are a succession of vacant funds, unemployment is now at unsustainable levels, and of course Carrara has lost the appeal it once had, even among its own citizens, who prefer to move to neighboring towns for their activities. And rebuilding Carrara’s appeal will take years. For this good situation we have the administration to thank, but also the Carrara people themselves: the most popular sport in town is to complain about politicians except to vote for them again (out of self-interest, habit or whatever) at the next election rounds.

And, returning to Caffaz, theAcademy of Fine Arts is certainly not blameless either. We still remember the bombastic promises made immediately after Caffaz’s appointment as president. Promises that were never kept. Starting with those about the gipsoteca, which not only has never been realized, but indeed the realization still seems to be on the high seas. Two (moreover very questionable) exhibitions of the Academy’s plaster casts are not enough to cry success. Not to mention the funding cuts, the end of the collaboration with the Pietrasanta Visual Arts Center, the courses constantly at risk. So Caffaz is right when he says that “we live in a phase of reduced resources” and that there is a need for an “overall development project.” The city council has been in place since 2007, Caffaz, on the other hand, has been president of the Academy since 2009: what have they been doing all this time? By now, the “comprehensive development project” should have been in place.

Therefore, it would be time to initiate a turnaround. A turnaround that must start from a fundamental assumption: no more waste, useless projects, and ephemeral events. Enough, to wit, of Casanova magicians at the quarries or Tricolored Arrows at the sea. Let’s aim at promoting what we have. Like artists: Studi Aperti has been a good success, so why not organize a good exhibition, lasting a whole summer, with the best work of artists working in the city, open all day and located at all the city’s exhibition venues? An exhibition perhaps annually, and every year focusing on a different theme. Or why not bring ancient art back to Carrara? The last notable exhibition in this regard was the one on Pietro Tacca in 2007. Or lecture cycles, and let them be promoted properly, on the web and in print: there are so many people, in Carrara, interested in culture. If we want, in Carrara we can succeed in doing all this, and it could be a very good starting point for programming and for the revitalization of the city. But perhaps what is lacking is courage.

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