2020 Art Academy Projects: From Anti-Violence Campaigns to Tech-Infused Craftsmanship

Despite pandemic restrictions, Italian art academies launched several initiatives in 2020. In Rome, the "Scelgo la libertà" exhibition at Auditorium Parco della Musica displayed student posters against gender violence until January 10, 2021, promoted by Roma Capitale and the Department for Equal Opportunities. The Accademia di Belle Arti di Napoli and Roma created "Accademie in stazione": a mural "PopNapoliPop" on 400 m² along Corso Novara in Naples, and "Visioni d'istanti" at Roma Termini station. In Sardinia, the Accademia di Belle Arti Mario Sironi di Sassari launched Art Lab Exper, part of the Interreg Italia-Francia Marittimo 2014-2020 program, pairing students with local artisans and establishing Resource Centers like Centro ArtiManos in Cagliari and Art Lab Accademia Sironi in Sassari (housed in the former Masedu soap factory). The project selected ten fellows: five from France and Corsica, two from Liguria, three from Sardinia (architect Sara Vignoli, Ciriaco Canu, Omar Schintu). Works by Canu and Vignoli were presented at the Maker Island fair in Olbia. The Liceo Artistico Coreutico «De Nittis –Pascali» in Bari rebranded with the claim "Nel cuore dell'arte" and launched digital Open Days, with communication designed by ex-students from the startup murgiahub.