New Vicenza Festival ARTis to Debut in November 2025, Rejecting Art Market

A new festival called ARTis – Festival dell’Arte will launch in Vicenza from November 10–16, 2025, using iconic venues such as the Teatro Olimpico, Palazzo Chiericati, and Basilica Palladiana for talks, lectures, and performances. The festival is directed by art historian Marina Wallace and editor Vittorio Bo, who previously directed the Festival della Scienza di Genova (2003–2015). Its first edition is titled “Non vi è arte senza artista” (There is no art without the artist). A key component is an artist residency at Palazzo Valmarana Braga, where Matilde Sambo will develop a site-specific project. The festival explicitly rejects the art market and sales, aiming to bridge the gap between artists and the public through accessible programming without simplification. It draws inspiration from science communication models. The program includes educational workshops for schools and families, involving local museums and five national institutions: MAXXI Rome, Mart Rovereto, Castello di Rivoli, Artesella, and Museo Tattile Omero of Ancona. International guests include Bill Sherman, director of the Warburg Institute in London, who will speak on the 75th anniversary of Gombrich’s “The Story of Art,” noting the absence of women in the book. The festival also touches on neuroscience, ecology, spirituality, literature, and feminism. Future editions will explore questions such as whether art can exist without critics or galleries.