4passi Festival: sustainability in the round in Treviso

Source: press office Radici Srl

The 17th edition sees the fair on solidarity and sustainable economy enter the Santa Caterina Museum where, with its 7-metre diameter, Gaia, Luke Jerram’s artistic installation reproducing the planet Earth seen from space, will be set up.

It is with satisfaction that we can say that the Chamber of Commerce has been a constant supporter of the ‘4 Passi’ Fair for many years, –  says the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Treviso – Belluno|Dolomiti Mario Pozza. Thanks to our commitment, this event has now returned to Treviso to offer insights, values and entertainment not only to local citizens, but also to visitors from elsewhere. I like to point out that this quality event also involves families, further expanding its positive impact on the community.

“With feet on the ground” and eyes firmly on the future of the planet. From 25 to 29 October, the4passi Festival returns to transform Treviso into the national capital of sustainability and solidarity economy, scheduling in-depth meetings with the participation of more than 20 guests, shows, concerts, a focus on the world of ethical fashion and fair trade, and a dozen other events including workshops, tastings, and entertainment for children.

A 17th edition that starts with a double novelty: the presence of the Museo Santa Caterina as the main venue of the festival and the installation, right in the auditorium spaces of the Treviso museum complex, of the work Gaia by British artist LukeJerram, which will act as the leitmotif of the entire event. In Greek mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth and the travelling installation, presented for the first time in 2018, is precisely a faithful reproduction of the planet as seen from the Moon. It is a seven-metre diameter illuminated sphere that aims to reproduce what is known as the ‘OverviewEffect’, the overall view reported by astronauts and first described by author Frank White in 1987: a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all life and a renewed sense of responsibility for caring for the environment. In conveying the fragility of the planetary system and inviting a renewed sense of responsibility, the work is closely linked to the ‘Down to earth’ theme of 4passi 2023. In fact, this year’s exhibition intends to investigate good practices and possible solutions at a global level to promote a more sustainable daily lifestyle.

Some of the highlights of the 4passi Festival will take place under the opera, starting with the inauguration on Thursday 26 October at 6.30 p.m. with the lighting of Gaia, followed by a performance by singer-songwriter Erica Boschiero, a former Tenco Prize finalist, and author and arranger Sergio Marchesini, who will sing the world and nature with their music. The programme will continue on Friday 27 October at 6 pm with “Eppur si muovono: migrazioni, frontiere, diritti negati” (“Yet they move: migrations, borders, denied rights“), which, with the special participation of Gianfranco Schiavone, a migration scholar and president of the Italian Solidarity Consortium-Refugee Office onlus in Trieste, will address the theme of migrations and the violation of the rights of those who undertake them, often risking their own lives.

There will be two appointments on Saturday 28 October in Santa Caterina: at 10 a.m. the conference organised in collaboration with Fai Cisl nazionale “La Terra ci nutre, a che prezzo?”,  (“The Earth feeds us, at what price?“) on the planet’s food resources in the face of the climate crisis, with Alessandro Volpi, Onofrio Rota, Michael Fakhri, Federica Leonarduzzi, Alessandro Franceschini and Duccio Facchini; at 6 p.m. “An Earth without peace”, a meeting to talk about the dramatic situation in the Middle East in the company of journalist Anna Maria Selini, Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, and Mohammed Hmidat, producer of fair trade chains. Again the sphere of Luke Jerram will be the backdrop to two other eagerly awaited meetings on Sunday 29 October: at 11 a.m. “Clima, città, cittadinanza: un’alleanza possibile” (“Climate, city, citizenship: un’alleanza possibile“) will see the climatologist and popularizer Luca Mercalli, interviewed by Marco Motta, editor of Radio3Scienza, while in the afternoon, at 3 p.m., TV journalist, documentary filmmaker and reporter Davide Demichelis will dialogue with journalist Valentina Calzavara around the theme of travel during the meeting “Viaggi di sola andata: (e qualche ritorno)” (“One-way trips and a few returns”), organised with Fondazione Zanetti.

The attention to the public of the young and very young that has always characterised 4passi Festival, this year is enriched with an additional proposal reserved for schools, from primary to secondary level: workshops on the theme of climate change and activism, realised with the collaboration of Contarina and structured according to the different age groups, which will end with a visit to the Gaia installation.

Each evening of the festival will then be accompanied by a different show, always hosted in the museum venue of Santa Caterina: “Uno sguardo dallo spazio” (“A look from space”) with the Paduan astronaut and populariser Elena Lazzaretto at 9 p.m. on Friday; “Storie d’acqua – Meditazioni sul clima” (“Stories of water – Meditations on the climate“), a reflection on the fundamental element for life on the planet as a metaphor for life and a symbol of surprise and rebirth signed by the director, playwright, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Gabriele Vacis at 9 p.m. on Saturday; “Potentemente naturale” (“Powerfully natural”), the festival’s final event on Sunday at 6 p.m. 30 will see actor and poet Vasco Mirandola accompanied by the 80 very young members of the Orchestra Giovani Musicisti Veneti, committed to expressing in one big sound a powerful hymn to life organised in partnership with CentroMarca Banca.

Another reference location for the 2023 edition of the fair and sustainable economy event will be the Loggia dei Cavalieri, where on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October there will be an area dedicated to concrete proposals for conscious consumption that respects people and the planet. From ethical fashion garments to the products of the Altromercato workshops, the Loggia will also be the setting for book presentations, tastings, workshops for adults – such as those on natural cosmetics organised by Patrizia Poggiali – a showcooking by blogger Francesca Giovannini, better known online as TheBluebird, and even a concert: Minimal Klezmer, scheduled at 6.45 pm on Saturday.

Lastly, on Saturday morning at Palazzo dei 300 there will be a conference entitled “Il volontario tra associazioni e istituzioni” (“The volunteer between associations and institutions“) organised by CSV Belluno Treviso on the occasion of the opening of the tenth academic year of the University of Volunteering on the subject of the skills needed to take part in the leadership of voluntary associations.

All the events of the 4passi Festival are free admission with booking recommended, except for Gabriele Vacis’ show, for which a 10-euro ticket is required. The artwork Gaia can be visited free of charge during the festival hours and events. For all the days of the festival it is possible to visit the Museo di Santa Caterina with reduced admission (free for minors).

Full programme of events at www.4passi.org