Ways of Becoming: 25 years with UNIDEE

Ways of Becoming: 25 years with UNIDEE
Exhibitions, talks & panels, performances and UNIDEE Residency Modules
September 21–December 7, 2024 

In 2024, UNIDEE Residency Programs celebrates 25 years of fostering educational encounters for artists involved in art and social transformation at Cittadellarte—Fondazione Pistoletto in Biella, Italy. Founded in 1999 by Michelangelo Pistoletto, the residency programs have hosted thousands of artists and cultural professionals from 52 countries, exemplifying what art historian Gregory Sholette considers “a far-sighted and vibrant investment in the future of innovative, intellectually stimulating, and socially engaged cultural practices.”

To mark the 25th anniversary of the UNIDEE residency programs, Cittadellarte dedicates the 26th Arte al Centro event to reflecting on the evolution of artistic residencies for social transformation. The celebrations will highlight how Cittadellarte and UNIDEE have fostered personal and societal change and will feature panels, meetings, performances, and a special edition of UNIDEE Modules residencies addressing key issues in art for social change.

Ways of Becoming: 25 years with UNIDEE
A group exhibition, that will open on the 21st of September at Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto (Biella, Italy), by UNIDEE alumni worldwide will explore how art can drive processes of change.

The exhibition will display works by Mae Aguinaldo-Mapa, Nico Angiuli, Mariangela Aponte, Laurent Barnavon, Lindsay Benedict, Ilaria Biotti, Charles-Antoine Blais Métivier, Michael Blum, Beatrice Catanzaro, David Cañavate, Luigi Coppola, Giulia Filippi, Stephanie Hanna, Mako Ishizuka, Emily Jacir, Charlie Jeffery, Cees Krijnen, Olga Ledis, Natalia Ludmila, Karl Logge & Marta Romani, Matthew Mazzotta, Katia Meneghini, Ryts Monet, Alice Pedroletti, Anastasia Ryabova, Caretto - Spagna, Chiara Sgaramella,  PLoT (Colette Lewis, Marilyn Lennon and Elinor Rivers), Alejandro Vàsquez and Kosta Tonev, Charlie Jeffery, Georgios Moraitis, Marlo De Lara, Karl Logge & Marta Romani and Katia Meneghini.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort showcasing archival materials, including anecdotes, memories, reflections, books, and recipes from former residents and mentors. 

Talks and panels
A four-days symposium featuring Andy Abbott, Valerio del Baglivo, Susanne Bosch, Chiara Cartuccia, Beatrice Catanzaro, Viviana Checchia, Luigi Coppola, Vincenzo Estremo, Fabiola Fiocco, Owen Griffiths, Cecilia Guida, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Iswanto Hartono, Diego del Pozo Barriuso, Juan Sandoval, Alessandra Saviotti, Angela Serino, Anna Taylor, Ovidiu Țichindeleanu and Mick Wilson. 

The program reflects on the transformation of socially engaged art over the past 25 years, exploring its intersection with other disciplines. The themes will address critical issues, from the ecological turn to envisioning new configurations for future artistic institutions, the pedagogical dimension of socially engaged art, and hospitality as a method in artistic residencies. Finally, the program will discuss the evolution of various formats experimented with by UNIDEE Residency Programs and the archive’s role in shaping the next 25 years.

Public programme
The four-day celebration features a public program organised by UNIDEE alumni, including open mic sessions, workshops, sound art performances, a live film sound session, and board games. Additional activities include  plants life drawing, creating food-related fanzines, impromptu tango sessions, and family activitie with Omar Adel, Ayed Arafah, Trine Bumiller, Elizaveta Butakova, Katya Craftsovav, Giulia Filippi, Shayma Hamad, Stephanie Hanna, Mako Ishizuka, Karl Logge & Marta Romani, Ginevra Ludovici, Manuela Macco, Ahmad Malki, Rachel Nord, Alice Pedroletti, Nicole Sánchez + Lygia Fernandes (Mais uno+1), Rebecca Sforzani, Josie Tothill, Daniel Urrea, Alejandro Vásquez, and ad more.

UNIDEE and the city of Biella
The program features a series of interventions throughout Biella, collaborating with local organisations and associations. These highlight how the artistic residency programme has woven relationships with the public space, the people, and the city’s over the last 25 years.

UNIDEE Residency Modules
The Autumn 2024 UNIDEE residency modules will expand on the themes highlighted during the celebration,  with mentors Fabiola Fiocco, Susanne Bosch, Eva Rowson Angela Serino and Bianca Elzenbaumer, and facilitators Andy Abbott, Beatrice Catanzaro and Alessandra Saviotti. These modules offer a space for in-depth exploration of key questions and learning with peers and experts. The three modules, each accommodating up to twelve participants, will take place at Cittadellarte—Fondazione Pistoletto between October and December 2024. Participation is offered free of charge and a limited number of partial and full travel bursaries are made available to those who would not otherwise be able to participate.

For more information on the open call visit here.

The 26th edition of Arte al Centro is made possible with the support of Ministero della Cultura, Italian Council, Regione Piemonte, Camera di Commercio Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte, Fondazione CRT, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Biella, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione Zegna, illy S.p.A., ETS Ecotermica Servizi. In accordance with Città di Biella. In synergy with Biella City of Crafts and Folk Art, UNESCO Member of the Creative Cities, Biella città Arcipelago. 

UNIDEE Residency Programs is made possible thanks to the support of Regione Piemonte, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, CRT Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, illycaffè S.p.A., Fondazione Zegna. UNIDEE research residency partners: A.M. Qattan Foundation, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, Institut Français Italy, Ambasciata del Regno dei Paesi Bassi.