The Matera 2019 Workshop

In the candidacy phase for European capital of culture, it was immediately highlighted, through the Dossier, that citizens, not only from Matera, but from Basilicata, southern Italy and Europe were the foundations of the project proposed by Matera 2019: in fact, expressions of 'cultural inhabitant' and 'temporary citizen' sought to underline the creation of a broader and more qualified cultural public, not passive users, but co-creators of content. The diversity of the Matera 2019 workshops has allowed citizens to experience and adopt a different point of view regarding the practice of culture today.

In a society that changes so quickly, even the world of school needs to be rethought: For this, Matera 2019 looked towards the concept of edutainment, or as the Latins called it "ludendo docere", "teaching while having fun". 'Heritage Games' is a project which involved a total of 60 classes throughout Basilicata: Primary and Secondary School pupils grappled with coding workshops, tackled the basics of computer programming, and used a 3D printer, the latter with the collaboration of the Open Design School and many artists involved. Their work led to the discovery of Basilicata's historical and cultural heritage and its enhancement with a modern twist. The results obtained were presented in an exhibition during the Open Culture Festival, dedicated to the theme of digital and the usability of culture today, while the project files were shared with open source licence, so that anyone can use them and reinvent them in future.

Regenerated spaces to be returned to the community: this was the objective of Open Playful Space, an event held as part of the European event 'Move Week', which involved young people from 16 to 24 years old. The participants were able to take part in street sports and arts in different areas of the city, learning from artists who are well-known on the international scene. A widespread festival that also involved local partners, co-organisers of capoeira, parkour, skating and street boulder workshops and even site-specific art, murals, graffiti and tags. An opportunity for young people to ask themselves how they can experience urban space in terms of active participation.

Matera 2019's cultural programme brought current artistic realities to the city that the local public was not used to. Taking part in this type of workshop has enabled citizens to better understand those forms of art that do not fall into the traditional categories: after all, art is born to be free, open to the exchange between various forms of expression. Choreographer and dancer Virgilio Sieni knows that well, and, for the first time in his role of curator, during the exhibition 'Thauma - Atlas of Gesture', he organised a rich programme of performances, actions and practical sessions on gesture for citizens.

The Silent Academy project is inspired by one of the principles of the Dossier, that of festina lente, or more specifically hastening slowly; it is originated from the idea that certain knowledge, certain stories need time to come out: this is how the workshops with migrants, local workers and citizens came about, a way to awaken the attitudes and skills of those who, facing the difficulties of a new life, risk losing their wealth of knowledge.