LA CASA IN FONDO AL MARE - English version

The earth is burning.
The thermometer marks 42°.
My car has sunk into the mud.
The sea is full of plastic.
What can I do about it?
Sooner or later someone will take us to Mars.
Goodbye Earth.
But will we all fit in that spaceship?
Or just a few: you will, you won't, you will, I won't.
Let us gather under an oak tree, in a theatre, in an old house, like children crashed on a deserted island. And let us talk: I know one thing. I know another, I have studied it, and I have seen it with my own eyes. I know, but I cannot find the words. I am full of words, but I do not know how to put them in order.
We want to find new forms of knowledge, new narratives. But for this to go from the world of ideas to reality, we need to inspire you, to take you to a horizon where everything is still possible and each of us can make a difference.
Choose us, help us, contribute, and play with us for a change. Dream the same dream as us.

We aim to create an opportunity for art and science experts to meet in order to tackle an urgent topic such as climate change in a direct way, using different tools, and different approaches, allowing a cross-over of stimuli and changes of perspective. This group will be joined by 5 students of Marine Biology and 5 citizens of Apiro, in the province of Macerata, a village hit by the 2016 earthquake and affected by a phenomenon of depopulation of its historic centre, which is still struggling to regain its vitality. It is in this village nestled in the hills and enclosed within the Sforza walls, that the cross-sectorial residency will take place, combining art and science, drama and marine biology, performing arts and that factual knowledge of topics, which often struggle to reach the broader public, generating false convictions, with the consequence of minimising real risks and fuelling general confusion to the point of a very dangerous denial of scientific thought.

An idea of decentralisation of knowledge and cultural activities that has its roots in the experiments of the 1970s which moved the desire for a different study space, minimal and far from the large research centres, just as it is far from the coast. A cultural hub located in a place steeped in nature and strong in a creative and cultural tradition linked to the presence of the longest-running Italian folklore festival, which has introduced an awareness of the richness produced by diversity and a sensitivity to beauty in all its forms.

Here in Apiro, to found a space receptive to proposals and sharing, a year ago the MALTE association opened the doors of the ancient Casa Mestica, a historic dwelling overlooking the main square, opposite the Collegiate Church of Sant'Urbano, creating a cultural centre that is attracting artists and operators from Italy and abroad. Here, since last spring, with public and private support, creative residencies, performances, in-depth forums, photography workshops for adults and introductory art workshops for children, meetings with intellectuals and artists at national and international levels have been hosted, always with a strong involvement of the local community.

A proposal that aims to nurture dialogue on diversity, expressly drawing on the variety of participants. Thus becoming part of a broader project, which understands theatre and art as a room for confrontation and aims to address issues that cannot be reconciled, to deal with the complexity of the present, stimulating the conscience of individuals. What is possible? What can each of us do? We want to activate a path of awareness of our concrete possibilities.

A vision in which everyone's voice counts, and everyone's creativity becomes a resource.

The initiatives implemented have attracted the attention of professors and researchers who have chosen it as a case study within the PRIN 2022 PNRR Cultural Welfare Ecosystems for Wellbeing project of the DISCUI of the University of Urbino Carlo Bo and the Department of Arts of the University of Bologna. In this context, the impact of the work is measured in terms of the well-being of the population and the strengthening of its awareness. 

Thought turns into action. Action moves towards transformation.

The residency is the new step in this community practice, which will take place over five days (30 June to 4 July), in which the participants will delve into scientific content and narrative tools to disseminate them with dramaturgy pieces: small formats of writing generated at speed and processed collectively. But the tiny agora that will be formed cannot disregard the awareness of the world around it and will therefore broadcast its daily achievements and discoveries through the waves of a web radio, which will ensure daily sharing and interaction with the participants connected remotely.

On the final day, it will broadcast a continuous live stream full of special contributions, with international guests, music, Q&A sessions, dedications and perhaps the poetry of the ocean depths.

Your support will be used to cover planning and management costs, travel reimbursement for participants, catering on the days of the residency, technical and communication costs, as well as the cachet and fees of the artists and scientific experts.

Below we explain the various items in percentages:

For this to become a reality, we need each and every one of you, your curiosity, your desire to take part. This will allow the creation of texts that will be presented at festivals, conferences and other contexts to raise awareness among a wider audience. But also, above all, the development of a replicable reference model and the development of methodologies for communicating content that is too often distorted by ideological and misleading narratives. 

Your contribution will enable us to establish a language, acquire skills for a real risk narrative, and transmit them through storytelling.

In a world where the attempt at simplification is rampant, we invite you to take action, to participate in a path that does not abandon the space of utopia and insists on nourishing doubt, soliciting confrontation and clash, to build new models and meanings and prepare for encounter, demonstrating that individual and social change is possible.

But... having won this project - in partnership with the Marche Polytechnic University, WORLDRISE, Reef Check Italia, and Fano Università del Mare - the Marche Region's pilot competition, when we reach the €4,500 target, the sum will be doubled by a public contribution! This will allow us to realise the idea in its complete form.

And since this is a pilot project, its success will encourage other projects, perhaps even visionary ones like ours.

Now: our eyes open to the future.

Try matching the looks to the biographical traces that follow. Faces of scientists? Faces of artists? Do you recognise anyone?

Sonia Antinori, actress, author and theatre director, teacher at public and private institutions such as Scuola Holden (Turin), Civica Scuola Paolo Grassi (Milan), Accademia AMA (Lecce), whose plays have been translated into over ten languages and performed in Italy and abroad. 

Mariasole Bianco, who graduated from the University of Genoa in Environmental Science, and specialised in Marine Area Management in Australia, is an environmental divulgator, co-founder of Worldrise, and writes and presents documentaries for the TV programme ‘Kilimangiaro’ on Rai3.

Andrea Caimmi, actor, playwright, and acting teacher, with a focus on the world of teens. He has been directed by directors such as Giampiero Solari, Mario Martone, and Vinicio Marchioni. He has collaborated on European projects on theatre as a tool for integration.

Carlo Cerrano, professor of zoology at the Marche Polytechnic University, studies the biology and ecology of marine biodiversity by applying scientific diving techniques. He co-founded two non-profit organisations, two university spin-offs and is co-inventor of three patents.

Sara Cerri, a graduate in Biological Sciences from the Marche Polytechnic University, continues her studies in Marine Biology in the same faculty. She is a member and advisor of the non-profit association Fano Università del Mare.

Valentina Dall'Ara, a graduate of the Civica Scuola di Teatro Paolo Grassi in Organizzazione dello Spettacolo, has gained numerous experiences in the field of cultural, social and corporate production and communication, and is president of the Legambiente Valle dell'Agno association.

Ruggero Franceschini, a theatre director and actor who graduated from the Piccolo School in Milan, has worked as an actor with Luca Ronconi, Declan Donnellan, and Emilie Rousset, and has presented his productions in Europe and Asia.

Roberta Garlatti, graduate in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, author and illustrator, expert in children's literature and art, leads meetings and workshops for children and young people to promote reading, art and beauty.

Maura Garofoli, a graduate in Political Science from Bologna, communication and digital marketing expert and writer, is marketing director of the Marina dei Cesari marina in Fano and a founding member of Fano Università del Mare.

Carla Manzon, theatre and film actress, graduated from the Piccolo School in Milan and has been directed by directors such as Massimo Castri, Cristina Pezzoli, Peter Stein, Alfonso Santagata, Serena Sinigaglia and Gigi Dall'Aglio.

Francesca Pavoni, an architect by training and Motion Graphics Designer by profession, has worked making videos in various fields, including television, theatre and cinema.

Torcuato Pulido Mantas, marine biologist, studies the structural complexity of marine habitats through the application of innovative three-dimensional reconstruction techniques.

Agnese Riccardi, marine biologist, studies the relationship between Man and the Ocean to define strategies for involving local communities in order to design conservation measures for the marine environment.

Camilla Roveta, marine biologist, studies the effects of climate change and the recovery of marine biodiversity through underwater environmental restoration techniques.

Gianfranco Rossi, marine biologist, diving instructor, and co-founder of the non-profit associations Reef Check Italia and Fano Università del Mare.

Stefania Scuppa, a graduate in Philosophy and Education Sciences, works in intercultural mediation and teaches Italian to foreign language students. She has been collaborating for several years with associations and projects in Senegal.