Federica Patti talks about Bologna’s endless energy

I grew up in the Bologna of the late nineties, at the forefront of contemporary artistic experimentation, multimedia, and electronic music. For me, working in contemporary art has always meant and still means opening new spaces and reaching new audiences, getting in touch with the communities of reference, and creating peculiar and unique experiences thanks to the artists’ vision and narration. Even today I continue to follow with passion the programming of festivals such as Gender Bender, ROBOT, and Live Arts week – Gianni Peng, which bring international excellence to the city.

Bologna has always welcomed and cultivated innovative energy that have developed and migrated elsewhere. The characteristic strength of the city is always its expanded cultural community and the myriad of experimental realities, constantly evolving and changing. Despite the economic crisis of recent years, institutional and private actors – such as Mambo (under the direction of Balbi), the foundations MAST, Del Monte, Zucchelli and CUBO Unipol enterprise museum – have been able to create a network in support of research and quality activities, with impact both locally and internationally. Private and independent spaces (the Manifattura delle arti, Adiacenze, the performance and music spaces) have also been able to network and support each other, welcoming students from the Accademia and DAMS. Municipal policies have tried to facilitate and support their activities, with widespread actions. The quality and relatively low cost of living have done the rest. I’d also like to add the happy decision, albeit semi-involuntary, to move Artcity from January to May: last year this solution was rewarded by attendance, the public, and professionals. Let’s hope it will be repeated this year!

I will be personally involved in the appointments of the public program of the exhibition “Mutamenti. Le metamorfosi sintetiche di fuse* e Francesca Pasquali” at the spaces of CUBO Unipol, in Porta Europa (via Stalingrado) and in the Tower (on the 25th floor of the skyscraper in via Larga, speaking of lesser-known places: it was opened to the public only in January 2022, and from up there the view is unique).

I suggest, among others:

Kipras Dubauskas | Fondazione per l’Innovazione Urbana
Carlos Garaicoa | Oratorio di San Filippo Neri
Pedro Neves Marques | Orto Botanico ed Erbario
Mattia Pajè | Palazzo Vizzani – Alchemilla
Emilia Tapprest | Centro di Ricerca Musicale-Teatro San Leonardo

Don’t miss “Dumpster Love Yourself”, the first bi-personal exhibition in the gallery by Federica Di Pietrantonio and Andrea Frosolini, at Adiacenze. A walkaround at Manifattura delle Arti on Saturday afternoon, especially to visit P420 and Gallleriapiù (which also hosts a performance that evening). Artist studios that also host events are flourishing, including Alessandro Brighetti‘s 10Lines.

I’m always happy to take guests on a mini-tour of the city as well. In the historic centre, I usually follow two “classic” pairings: Sergei restaurant + GUERO (the best cocktail bar in town), or Bertino + L’Ora d’Aria bistro for a pre or post-dinner cocktail. Rubik and Modo Infoshop in Via Mascarella are other good options for drinking.

But what’s new in the city is Bolognina, the neighborhood where I live and where so many places have sprung up in recent years: Fermento, the Albani market where you can find the wine shop Il Pollaio, the vermouth Bollore and Ligera, where you can also eat.

For after dinner, being a lover of live music, I always suggest concerts and/or DJ sets at Freak out, Dumbo, or Ateliersì; the latter hosts Saturday, May 14 a live event curated by Ombre Lunghe and Parsec, one of the most interesting new contemporary art spaces in the city, along with Gelateria Sogni di Ghiaccio and TANK cultural tank.