Vittorio Bo on ARTis Festival: Art as Accessible, Artist-Centered, and Rooted in Vicenza

Vittorio Bo, founder of ARTis festival in Vicenza, Italy, discusses the vision and model behind the event, which aims to make art accessible to all, drawing on his experience with the Festival della Scienza di Genova. The festival, conceived about three years ago, is structured around five clusters (talk, educational, family, residence, more) and introduces a new format, "Futuro Prossimo: Arte & Artigianato," connecting adolescents with craftsmanship. Over 80 Italian and international guests, including Martin Gayford, Daisy Fancourt, and Elena Ketra, will participate. Bo emphasizes the centrality of the artist, with the claim "non vi è arte senza artista" coined by artistic director Marina Wallace, promoting direct, unmediated engagement with artists. The festival uses Vicenza's historic and industrial landscape, including venues like Teatro Olimpico, Basilica Palladiana, and Gallerie d'Italia, as well as peripheral areas like Arzignano and neighborhoods with cooperative Aster3. Bo highlights the importance of education, citing Georges Braque, and notes the festival's role in fostering cultural and economic growth. He critiques the growing divide between specialized and generalist languages in contemporary creativity but praises young artistic collectives for genuine experimentation. The upcoming edition will expand on the previous year's success, with a focus on the five clusters and the new format, aiming to create a diffuse yet cohesive presence across the city.