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Art Center Padula is a not-for-profit arts organization, founded as a means to help revitalize the historic center of the southern Italian village of Padula. This ancient city has experienced a major de-population in the past 25 years, yet remains one of the most beautiful and important towns in the region. Using art as the impetus, Art Center Padula encourages the development of the creativity and innovation necessary to face the future of this region with hope.
Art Center Padula is a crossroads for the exchange of ideas, a nest for nurturing the growth of the imagination, and a means to support artists and creatives - giving them space and helping them flourish.
Art Center Padula is a crossroads for the exchange of ideas, a nest for nurturing the growth of the imagination, and a means to support artists and creatives - giving them space and helping them flourish.
2022: Our strategy and programming
The Art Center's mission is to have a positive impact on the community, both by inviting folks from outside this area to come get to know us, and by creating meaningful opportunities for locals. In this, our first year of development, we have already begun to implement these programs:
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Workshops & Retreats
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A series of intensive visual arts and creative writing workshops, plus yearly immersive creative retreats, bring international students and artist instructors to get to know Padula and its surroundings.
Our very first workshop offering is a Plein Air Painting workshop with renowned American artist, Joe Paquet, Sept. 30- October 6, 2022. |
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Artists-in-Residence
photo credit: padulafoto.it
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Artists and writers are invited to live and work among us in the historic center of Padula, becoming part of the fabric of our community. Each artist will have private accommodations within walking distance from the luminous studios. There are nine 3-to-4 weeks long residency sessions scheduled per year, with the opportunity to combine two or more sessions.
We hope to be ready for our first artists-in-residence by Summer 2022. |
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Art gallery
photo credit: padulafoto.it
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Exhibitions of art works by local, national, and international artists create regular opportunities for cultural exchange.
In an effort to show just how rich with talent this area is, our first shows will showcase only local artists: anyone living and working in the Vallo di Diano. We will gradually expand our programming to include shows by our artists-in-residence, plus national and international artists. |
our progress so far:
We have found the beautiful 18th century palazzo that will contain private studio spaces for visiting artists, a gallery, a common room for gatherings and our offices. We are in the process of getting the place into shape: a major clean-up, some minor repairs, an updated electrical system, gallery lighting and hanging system, a new bathroom and slop-sink, fresh paint, etc.
We are also in the process of identifying and creating contracts for the houses in the village where our visiting artists will stay, plus undertaking the necessary tasks of putting them in order: clean up, fresh paint where necessary, new sheets and towels, etc,
Coming in the fall of 2023:
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Art school:
We are developing a range of high-quality courses to be taught by local artists, bringing students of all ages to the historic center of Padula. |
New residents:
We offer assistance to artists, artisans, musicians, writers and creative professionals who would like to buy or rent homes and settle in the historic center of Padula. |
