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Art Center Padula is an arts organization, founded as a means to contribute to the revitalization of the southern Italian village of Padula. This ancient city, one of the most beautiful and important towns in the region, has experienced a major de-population in the past 25 years. Using art as the impetus, Art Center Padula aims to ignite the creativity and innovation necessary to face the future of this region with hope.
Art Center Padula is a community: it is a crossroads for the exchange of ideas; it is a nest for nurturing the growth of the imagination. It is a means to gather and support artists and thinkers—giving them time to explore and space to flourish.
Art Center Padula is a community: it is a crossroads for the exchange of ideas; it is a nest for nurturing the growth of the imagination. It is a means to gather and support artists and thinkers—giving them time to explore and space to 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 local collaborations. 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 ten 3-week-long residency sessions scheduled per year, with the opportunity to combine two or more sessions.
We look forward to hosting our first artists in April 2023. |
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Art gallery
photo credit: padulafoto.it
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Exhibitions of art works 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. |
Community
Here at Art Center Padula, we're dependant on our community and committed to collaboration.
What does that mean?
It means that we're looking for additional ways in which this space, this container we're creating, can be filled. We're looking for folks willing to come to the table with ideas and the energy to help bring those ideas to fruition. We're also looking for people who share our vision of a revitalized historic center, and who would like to support this vision with their time and/or skills.
What does that mean?
It means that we're looking for additional ways in which this space, this container we're creating, can be filled. We're looking for folks willing to come to the table with ideas and the energy to help bring those ideas to fruition. We're also looking for people who share our vision of a revitalized historic center, and who would like to support this vision with their time and/or skills.
Our progress so far:
We are negotiating a contract for a beautiful palazzo that can contain private studio spaces for visiting artists, a gallery, a common room for gatherings and our offices. We are currently making the budget for 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 2024:
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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. |
