Eva Neklyaeva and Lisa Gilardino Launch Their First Santarcangelo Festival

The 47th Santarcangelo Festival runs from July 7 to 16, 2017, marking the first edition under the new artistic direction of Eva Neklyaeva, who will lead the triennium 2017-19 with co-curator Lisa Gilardino. The festival has opened a temporary Museum of Non-Humanity in the city center, curated by Finnish artists Terike Haapoja and Laura Gustafsson, which will remain open for a month with talks, debates, and guided tours. The program includes site-specific 'habitats' in various city locations, inviting audiences to interact freely. Three associated artists for the triennium are Francesca Grilli, Motus, and Markus Öhrn. New initiatives include a monthly free-style meeting called 'Wash up' for local teenagers, a three-year collaboration with Milan's Macao research center to develop sustainable production models, and an international open call for artists and arts professionals to use the festival's guesthouse. Neklyaeva, born in Minsk and based in Helsinki before moving to Santarcangelo, previously directed Checkpoint Helsinki and the Baltic Circle festival. Gilardino, with a background in visual arts conservation, worked for Lenz Rifrazioni/Festival Natura Dèi Teatri in Parma and as a curator in residence at Baltic Circle. The directors emphasize a shift from representation to 'post-representational' practices, viewing performance as an open platform for diverse disciplines.