ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

NAO Performing Festival turns 13 in Milan with focus on youth and hybridity

festival-fair · 2026-04-27

The 13th edition of the NAO Performing Festival kicks off on September 8, 2022, in Milan, running for three weeks and showcasing a diverse array of dance, performance, music, cinema, and literature. Key venues include Fabbrica del Vapore, DiD studio, and Nuovo Armenia. French choreographer Jérôme Bel inaugurates the festival with "Laura Pante," a solo performed by Laura Pante. The overarching theme revolves around "the garden" as a political ecosystem. A segment named Dance TAZ provides a self-managed space. Curators Maria Paola Zedda and Claudio Prati chose artists based on their environmental focus, featuring talents like Simone Montozzi, Mike Cooper, and Barbara Stimoli. This year also marks a collaboration with Nuovo Armenia and the Across Asia Film Festival, along with a second section on new technologies in December.

Key facts

  • NAO Performing Festival 13th edition opens September 8, 2022 in Milan
  • Festival runs for three weeks
  • Venues: Fabbrica del Vapore, DiD studio, and new venue Nuovo Armenia
  • Nuovo Armenia is located in former stables of Villa Hanau, Dergano district
  • Festival collaborates with Across Asia Film Festival
  • Inaugural artist is French choreographer Jérôme Bel
  • Jérôme Bel refuses air travel and collaborated remotely on opening solo 'Laura Pante'
  • Theme of the edition is 'the garden' as interspecies habitat and political ecosystem
  • Section Dance TAZ offers self-managed experimental space
  • Curators: Maria Paola Zedda and Claudio Prati
  • Artists include Simone Montozzi (ARCA), Mike Cooper, Barbara Stimoli, Cosetta Raccagni, Jérôme Bel, Barbara Berti
  • Second section in December will focus on new technologies

Entities

Artists

  • Jérôme Bel
  • Laura Pante
  • Simone Montozzi
  • Mike Cooper
  • Barbara Stimoli
  • Cosetta Raccagni
  • Barbara Berti
  • Maria Paola Zedda
  • Claudio Prati

Institutions

  • NAO Performing Festival
  • DiD studio
  • Fabbrica del Vapore
  • Nuovo Armenia
  • Villa Hanau
  • Across Asia Film Festival
  • Dance TAZ
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Dergano

Sources