Europe, Territory, and Culture: A Conference on Opportunities for Associations, Businesses, and Citizens

To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Biennale d’Arte Fabbrile, Stia hosts the international conference “Europe, Territory, and Culture. Concrete Opportunities and New Horizons for Associations, Businesses, and Citizens . “

On Saturday, September 5th, at 10:30 a.m., at the Teatro Comunale in Piazza Mazzini, the event will focus on the relationship between European institutions, cultural identity, and local economic development. It will explore the opportunities offered by the European Union and the experience of the Biennale, which has become a case study and a model for international planning.

The meeting will be opened by Luca Santini , mayor of Pratovecchio Stia, and Piero Milli , president of the Biennale d’Arte Fabbrile Association, who will introduce the strategic value of collaboration between institutions, cultural organizations, and the local area.

This will be followed by a presentation on European opportunities for associations, businesses, and citizens, presented by Fausto Ghelli and Mauro Bartolucci of Bottega del Cittadino Europeo – Antenna Casentino in Stia, with the participation of Professor Massimiliano Montini and Angelita Campriani of Europe Direct – University of Siena. Key European Union calls for proposals, funding, and programs, including Creative Europe, Erasmus+, and the cohesion funds, will be presented, illustrating the tools available for innovation, creating new collaborations, and growing internationally.

The second part of the conference will be dedicated to the Biennale d’Arte Fabbrile , presented as a concrete example of the transformation of a deeply rooted local tradition into a European-wide project. The in-depth analysis will be led by Adele Amato , project manager of the Biennale d’Arte Fabbrile Association, with presentations by Maria Gemma Bendoni, Dario Simonetti, and Chiara Bargellini .

Ring of Iron Cities network and the “Iron Notes” project , co-financed by the European Union, will be discussed, with an update on the results achieved and the upcoming travelling exhibition, scheduled for 2026 and 2027. A specific space will also be reserved for training and international mobility activities supported by Erasmus+ and the presentation of the second edition of the Iron Notes Summer Camp 2026 .

The morning will conclude with practical information on the services offered by the Europe Direct helpdesk, how to sign up for the newsletter, and how to receive free information and guidance.

Among the major innovations of this fiftieth anniversary is the new Art Trail , which passes through Stia and extends to Porciano, Papiano, Ama, and Pratovecchio. The itinerary brings together 45 works created during the editions of the Biennale from 2001 to 2025 by blacksmiths, sculptors, and artists from 12 countries: Italy, France, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, England, Finland, the Czech Republic, Germany, the United States, Belgium, and Japan. This project takes art beyond traditional exhibition spaces and strengthens the dialogue between iron, landscape, villages, and communities.

Among the works, the one created by master blacksmiths Roberto Magni and Martino Stenico , inspired by Michelangelo Pistoletto’s “Third Paradise,” stands out . The official inauguration will be held on Saturday, September 5th at the Parco delle Terme del Palagio Fiorentino, following the afternoon conference dedicated to the work, scheduled for 5:00 pm at the Teatro Comunale.

The conference offers an opportunity to learn more about the opportunities Europe offers and understand how culture, artisanal skills, and local identity can become drivers of innovation, collaboration, and development.