Brescia launches open call for public art at Teatro Borsoni

Brescia is reinforcing its status as a city of the arts with a new public art initiative called LIFE ART, launched by the Centro Teatrale Bresciano in collaboration with the municipality and energy company A2A. The open call invites artists, especially young ones, to propose a permanent public artwork for the exterior of the newly inaugurated Teatro Renato Borsoni (opened September 21, 2024, at Via Milano 83). Curated by art historian Valentina Ciarallo, the call requires an original and unpublished proposal, with no restrictions on technique, materials, or language. The artwork will become part of the neighborhood's heritage, contributing to the ongoing regeneration of a peripheral area that was once an abandoned factory. The initiative is part of the broader 'Oltre la Strada' project, which aims to make culture accessible along Via Milano through urban and social regeneration, supported by a €2.5 million contribution from A2A. The goal is to create a 'Piazza dell'Arte' that serves as a meeting place for the community and attracts new audiences to the theater. The open call is open until January 20, 2025. Artist Emilio Isgrò, a long-time supporter of Brescia, offered a guiding principle: artists should not consider themselves important; art is meant to give importance to others, setting aside narcissism when working for the public.