Child Nation – Growing up in Italy
The multimedia project promoted by Con i Bambini dedicated to the theme of childhood in Italy
“Child Nation – Growing up in Italy” by Riccardo Venturi is a multimedia never-before-seen project, promoted, and produced by Con i Bambini. The project is dedicated to the theme of childhood in Italy, combatting against educational poverty for children and youth. Furthermore, curated by the association Akronos, this project has a catalogue which describes the stages of childhood in Italy with photographs introduced by a short explanation of the stories depicted. Additionally, the documentary of Arianna Massimi explores the fragility of youth and the lack of opportunities. It sets out the hopes for combatting child and youth poverty as a means for a Growing Country. The documentary won the price of best short film of the section “Children World” of the eleventh edition of the Prato Film festival.
Support to the initiative was shown by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella. Also, on the 26 October 2022, Pope Francis received a delegation of Con i Bambini President, Acri President, the two artists, and Con i Bambini’s communications and external relations manager. The delegation handed over to the Pope a copy of the catalogue and a print of the cover photo. It is finally worth to note that Rai for Sustainability ESG has granted free sponsorship, given the social and cultural relevance of the initiative.
The different stages
- Rome, Museum of Rome in Trastevere
From 28 October 2022 to 26 February 2023, Riccardo Venturi’s project was hosted in preview at the Museum of Rome in Trastevere, where Rome meets the international culture through new ways of communication of the artistic research, with temporary exhibitions. Approximately fifteen thousand people have visited “Child Nation” which has also offered educational visits where children can reflect on the fragility and the hope of children and youth. To continue to benefit from the outcomes of the project the work of students after this exhibition will be posted on a blog created by Con i Bambini.
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- Biella, Palazzo Gromo Losa
From 15 April to 14 May 2023 the multimedia project was hosted in Palazzo Gromo Losa in Biella, a modern exposition centre, but also an original space for cultural and social projects. The exhibition reached about 1,500 visitors and was hosted as part of the “Journey – Horizons, Frontiers, Generations” event.
On 15 April 2023 the Cascina Oremo space was inaugurated; a 17th-century property restored by the social enterprise Con i Bambini and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Biella to enable the creation of an educational, sports, innovative and inclusive hub for the city. This is a place available to the community that offers educational spaces, gyms, swimming pools, classrooms, and workshops in which also children with disabilities, together with their families, will be able to find paths to inclusion and develop their talents, and also with the support of various specialists.
- Bergamo, Chiostro di Santa Marta
From May 25 to June 4, 2023, the multimedia project made a stop at the cloister of Santa Marta in the city centre. The City of Bergamo granted patronage and the Bergamo Community Foundation shared the organization.
For the whole period of the exhibition artistic laboratories for children were set up and run realised by two art teachers from the social cooperative AEPER.
- Turin, Stables of the Royal Cavalry
From the 12 June to the 10 September 2023 the Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo e il Cosorzio ZeroTredici will host the multimedia project in the Stables of the Royal Cavalry of Turin. This is a cultural and educational hub, set within a framework of sustainability and experimentation and thus consistent with the goals of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, the City of Turin, the University of Turin, and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge and will be aimed at adolescents.
After September, the multimedia project will travel to other Italian cities with the schedule still to be determined.
In the four stages (Rome, Biella, Bergamo, and Turin) a free seminar for journalists “Juvenile educational poverty for children and youth in Italy: the journalistic narrative beyond the written word” was held.
