PassaggiAtina: A DIY Artist Residency in Atina, Frosinone

Since 2015, the PassaggiAtina artist residency has taken place each August in the historic town of Atina, in the province of Frosinone, Italy. Coordinated by London-based artist Chris Simpson, the residency operates on a DIY, democratic model without institutional mediation, curators, open calls, or selection processes. Participants pay for accommodation and contribute to communal expenses according to their means. The group collectively defines goals, schedules, and rules, while Simpson facilitates but does not direct. Artists stay and work in the old school building managed by the Fondazione Asilo Beatrice, which had been vacant for years. The residency fosters direct engagement with local residents through free workshops, performances, and events in public spaces such as churches, the old school, and historic alleys. Mayor Adolfo Valente noted initial skepticism but now expresses pride that artworks created in Atina travel worldwide. Each year, Simpson organizes a follow-up exhibition in London. Photographer Natalia Jezova documented all Atina inhabitants during the 2017 and 2018 editions, creating a monumental work that drew the entire town to the final exhibition at Palazzo Visocchi. The residency's accessibility encourages many artists to return, combining returnees with newcomers to ensure constant evolution and long-term sustainability.