L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano W a l k i n g t h r o u g h t h e n a r - row lanes o f T e r - moli's borgo antico, the medieval promontory felt u n u s u a l l y q u i e t t h i s m i d - spring: laundry snapped in the Adriatic breeze, pastel walls stood in silence, and the beauty of the moment was mostly denoted by its empti- ness. This scene, delicately captured by the Financial Times, set the stage for a bold cultural rebirth led by Gior- gio Pace, an internationally renowned curator and ex- Venice Biennale commission- er, who returned to his home- town of Termoli to lead a transformation that could redefine Molise's cultural identity. A f e w k i l o m e t e r s f r o m t h e s e q u i e t l a n e s , a c t i v e w o r k s a r e u n d e r w a y : t h e Giorgio Pace Foundation is taking shape in a restored 1 9 t h - c e n t u r y r e s i d e n c e redesigned by world-famous architect Kengo Kuma. All this is at the heart of Ter- m o l i ' s b i d t o b e c o m e Italy's Capital of Contem- porary Art 2027 (finalist announcements expected by mid October 2025), with a proposal called Traiettorie Contemporanee, a collabo- rative project designed to transform the town into a year-round hub for contem- porary creativity. The initia- tive is now one of six short- listed bids, alongside cities such as Alba, Chioggia, and Pietrasanta, with €1 million in state funding awarded to the winner. For Termoli, the candidacy is a strategic push to position t h e M o l i s e c o a s t l i n e a s a national reference point for art, community engagement, and sustainable development: if successful, Termoli will host a year-long cultural season, which will include exhibi- tions, performances, installa- tions, and educational pro- g r a m s , a l l w i t h i n i t s characteristic coastal streets and historic walls. The town, however, isn't starting from scratch: in 2019 it inaugurated MACTE, its Museo di Arte Contempo- r a n e a , f o u n d e d b y l o c a l authorities and private foun- dations. The museum carries o n t h e P r e m i o T e r m o l i , a competition that began in 1955, and is now integrated into the national AMACI net- work – the Association of Italian Contemporary Art M u s e u m s – w h i c h b r i n g s together leading public insti- tutions dedicated to contem- porary art across the country. This affiliation places Ter- moli in dialogue with nation- al and international museum practices, while also reinforc- ing its cultural credentials and connecting its initiatives to a wider system of exhibi- tions, research, and public e n g a g e m e n t . M A C T E i s home to nearly 500 works from post war Italian artists like Carla Accardi and Mario Schifano, and functions as both a cultural anchor and a springboard for new initia- tives and artists. Termoli is small and on Italy's geographic margins, yet that's part of its appeal – and part of the challenge it f a c e s . C o a s t a l t o w n s l i k e Pietrasanta have ridden their s c u l p t u r a l l e g a c i e s a n d t o u r i s t a p p e a l ; C h i o g g i a leverages its lagoon setting, A l b a i t s w i n e a n d t r u f f l e economy. Termoli's value proposition is less obvious, but what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in potential: its medieval walls, seafront piaz- zas, and historical identity provide a striking canvas for site specific art. Some may call what's been happening in Termoli a "cul- tural regeneration in micro- cosm," a process where cul- ture is a tool not just for elit- ist spectacle, but for commu- nal reawakening. Likely, the Ministry of Culture sees it t h i s w a y , t o o : n o t a m e r e competition, but a test case for whether art can revitalize smaller towns. Termoli, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to demon- strate that contemporary art can exist beyond the big city museum circuit, and also flourish in local infrastruc- ture or everyday settings. T h a t s a i d , q u e s t i o n s remain. Can Termoli handle a sudden influx of visitors, events, and media attention? Will it have the logistical capacity – public transport, accommodations, staffing – to support a year-long cultur- al season? There are models from past winners showing t h a t m o m e n t u m c a n f a d e once the spotlight moves on, which means Termoli would n e e d t o e n s u r e s u s t a i n e d investment and local engage- ment beyond the prize peri- od. Its coastal location may offer advantages. Outdoor art, land sculpture, light and s o u n d w o r k s a r o u n d t h e walls and docks could thrive in the open air: light projec- tions on the medieval ram- parts, performances in the p i a z z e t t a f a c i n g t h e s e a , installations that engage the tides; with an artist-in-resi- dence program, local schools and fishermen could be invit- ed to collaborate. This inte- gration – between profes- sionals, amateurs, locals, and visitors – is what Traiettorie Contemporanee aims to do. But why does Termoli's bid matter so much now? B e c a u s e I t a l y i s f a c i n g a decentralizing moment in culture, driven in part by post-pandemic recovery poli- cies; the Ministry's cultural strategy seeks to distribute investment across regions, because Italy isn't just Rome a n d M i l a n . C o m m u n i t i e s increasingly want art that's visible, public, participatory, and Termoli's bid reflects this trend well: smaller places asserting cultural identity and creativity as central to their future. There's also another layer, h o w e v e r : p r i v a t e p h i l a n - thropy. Giorgio Pace's com- mitment, which we presented briefly at the beginning of this article, channels private investment into public good, a model that many Italian towns lack; moreover, the involvement of a global cura- tor with institutional knowl- edge suggests Termoli could play on a network far beyond Molise's borders. The inter- n a t i o n a l m e d i a a t t e n t i o n alone, which, thanks to the FT coverage, has begun, gives credibility to the plan. If awarded, Termoli will receive €1 million to design and deliver its year of culture, but the true evidence of suc- c e s s w i l l l i e i n l e g a c y : w h e t h e r v e n u e s r e m a i n active, whether local audi- ences grow, whether schools and civic life continue to ben- efit. The prize should not end in 2027; instead, the question is whether Termoli can sus- tain ambition into 2028 and further down the line. A c o a s t a l t o w n t h a t exported wheat and grapes centuries ago may now aim to export ideas and experi- ences through museums, res- idencies, and public art, in a strong attempt to change a community from provincial obscurity to cultural hub. The transformation is already underway: homes restored, w a l l s b e i n g r e p u r p o s e d , international design names b e i n g c o m m i s s i o n e d . Y e t only when the hearings con- clude and a jury decides will w e k n o w i f T e r m o l i w i l l become Italy's next Capital of Contemporary Art. What matters most is that Termoli's candidacy mirrors a broader Italian ambition: that culture should serve all regions, that creativity can thrive in small villages and coastal towns, that private initiative and public support can walk hand in hand. If they succeed, Termoli won't just carry the title, it will also show Italy that its edges may be its new centers. FRANCESCA BEZZONE Termoli, the old town (Photo: Onlyfabrizio/Dreamstime) Molise looks to the future: Termoli's cultural challenge ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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