Mag to Mag: Italy's First Festival Dedicated to Independent Magazines Launches in Bologna

The first Italian festival entirely devoted to independent and collectible magazines, Mag to Mag, will take place on May 6–7, 2023, at Salaborsa in Bologna. Organized by Frab's Magazines, a Forlì-based entity founded in 2019 that selects and promotes independent magazines, the event features a market, masterclasses, training sessions, and open-mic presentations. Fifty exhibitors from Italy, Europe, the United States, China, and Singapore have been selected, including Pang Xue Qiang, publisher of Meantime zine. Notable guests include Stefano Cipolla (art director of L'Espresso), Saul Marcadent (essayist and professor at Iuav), Valentina Ardia (Linkiesta), and Emanuela Martini (film critic and director of Cineforum). The festival is supported by the Municipality of Bologna, streaming platform MUBI, NABA Academy in Milan, Lithuania's Kopa Publishing, and UK distributor Ra and Olly. Co-founder Anna Frabotta explained that the idea dates back to 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic; they aimed to fill a gap in Italy's publishing fairs where magazines play only a secondary role. The festival is free to attend, with ticketed workshops and a paid training course. Frabotta emphasized the desire to broaden the culture of magazines in Italy, noting that many people still do not understand their value. The choice of Bologna over Milan was deliberate, reflecting a desire to decentralize cultural events.