For six vibrant days from 12 to 17 May, L’Aquila transforms into a dynamic crossroads of art and culture with “Creative Connections Italy-Uzbekistan. ItARTS International Cultural Hub”, an event weaving together encounters, concerts, masterclasses, and workshops that unite Italian and Uzbek students and educators in a boundless creative dialogue. Spearheaded by the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “Alfredo Casella” and funded by the PNRR – NextGenerationEU, the ItARTS – Italy for ARTS: Resources, Time, Space project draws in the Accademia di Belle Arti dell’Aquila, the Saint Louis College of Music in Rome, the Politecnico di Torino, and the Università degli Studi dell’Aquila, with the bold aim of advancing the internationalisation of Italy’s Higher Artistic and Musical Education through a STEAM approach blending science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The mission is clear: to champion cultural heritage and spark contemporary artistic research, equipping young artists with digital, entrepreneurial, and technological skills to craft innovative, multidisciplinary live performances. Among the luminaries are esteemed Uzbek institutions like the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, the National Variety Arts Institute “Botir Zakirov”, the Nukus branch of the State Conservatory, and the National Institute of Fine Art and Design “Kamol utanov” in Tashkent. Venues from the Conservatorio to the Teatro dei 99, the Accademia di Belle Arti, and the Istituto Comprensivo “Cesira Fiori” in San Demetrio ne’ Vestini host a packed programme: a lecture-concert on Uzbek piano music with Feruza Mukhamedova, seminars on musical culture with composers Xushnud Nazarov and Dilbar Fakhridinova, conductor Gayrat Abrorov, and singer Rudakiy Allanbayev, alongside painting workshops with Eshmamat Khaitov and lectures on art and new technologies with Umida Zunnunova and Sayyora Zakirova.
At the heart of the week, the ItARTS laboratories see mixed teams of students and educators, led by luminaries like composer Michelangelo Lupone, director Francesco Saponaro, writer Giuliano Compagno, and director Stefano Vizioli, crafting three original productions – Shared, Dei Maestri Dipintori, Le Femmine d’Italia – that explore the convergence of artistic languages in live performance. Masterclasses in organ with Arturo Sacchetti and composition with Alessandro Solbiati, plus contemporary creativity exhibitions curated by the Accademia, enrich the offerings. The pinnacle is the Uzbek music concert on 16 May in the Conservatorio’s Auditorium, featuring the “Casella” string ensemble and Uzbek guests under Abrorov’s baton, a potent symbol of cultural connection. “This event celebrates art as a universal language,” says Prof. Daniela Macchione, Principal Investigator of ItARTS, “offering a tangible opportunity to champion creative diversity and forge international alliances rooted in innovation and education.” Director Claudio Di Massimantonio adds: “Welcoming our Uzbek colleagues for this week of exchange is an experience of immense human and cultural value, reinforcing our vision of art as a bridge between peoples.” With “Creative Connections”, L’Aquila cements its status as a capital of creativity and intercultural dialogue, showcasing art’s power as a catalyst for innovation and global cooperation.
