Antonello Tolve on AFAM: Italian Art Education's Strengths and Weaknesses

In an interview with Artribune, curator and art history professor Antonello Tolve discusses the state of Italy's Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale (AFAM) system. Tolve, who teaches at the Accademia Albertina di Torino, praises AFAM's preservation of artistic craftsmanship and its integration with industrial design sectors like Graphic, Fashion, Light, Interior, and Sound Design. However, he criticizes inadequate facilities, outdated lab materials, and chronic underfunding due to ministry funds being diverted to universities. At the Albertina, he notes a lack of suitable spaces but highlights strong external collaborations and international projects under President Paola Gribaudo and Director Edoardo Di Mauro. Tolve argues Italy should export its pedagogical models rather than import, but calls for better teacher selection and evaluation. He observes students are eager to learn despite systemic issues, and sees a disconnect between education and the art world, which appears closed and elitist. He advocates for updating teaching tools to include platforms like TikTok, Snow, WeChat, and Twitch. The lockdown enabled virtual seminars with prominent critics, expanding educational reach. Tolve emphasizes education must evolve with society, citing Durkheim and Yves Michaud.