6ARTISTA - Project for Young Artists (Pastificio Cerere Foundation)

A contemporary art laboratory in the heart of San Lorenzo

In the San Lorenzo district, just a short walk from La Sapienza University and the Verano Cemetery, a former early 20th-century industrial pasta factory has become one of the most vibrant hubs for contemporary art in Rome. Since 2009, the Pastificio Cerere Foundation, located at Via degli Ausoni 7, has hosted 6ARTISTA, a project conceived by Marcello Smarrelli to support the professional growth of young Italian artists. More than a traditional festival, it is an annual residency program that culminates in a group exhibition open to all—a staple of the cultural calendar in Rome and the Lazio region.

How the project works

Each edition, a jury of experts selects six artists under 35, either students or graduates from Roman art academies. They receive access to a shared studio at the Pastificio Cerere for 75 days, a gross scholarship of 2,000 euros for production costs, and free participation in training courses offered by partner academies. The artists work in pairs throughout the year, ensuring a continuous turnover and a constant dialogue between diverse research practices.

• Residency of three months in the historic studios of the Pastificio
• Grant of 2,000 euros gross for production, living expenses, and travel
• Seminars and workshops (10 to 30 hours) with partner academies
• Studio visits with critics, curators, and institutional directors
• Final group exhibition in the Foundation's exhibition spaces

Academies and supporters

The project stems from a collaboration between the Foundation and the city's leading art schools. Following editions held in partnership with RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts, the seventh edition (2026-2027) has opened up to all Roman academic institutions, involving the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, NABA – New Academy of Fine Arts, and RUFA itself. The program is supported by the Ministry of Culture and SIAE as part of the "Per Chi Crea" initiative, dedicated to supporting youth creativity.

The final exhibition: open to the public

The highlight for visitors is the concluding group exhibition, curated by the artistic director alongside a guest curator. In 2026, the exhibition Rifugi (Shelters), dedicated to the winners of the sixth edition, was open from February 19 to April 18 with free admission, bringing together installations, sculptures, photographs, and video works centered on the idea of shelter as a space where what is threatened outside can take form. The seventh edition exhibition is expected between January and February 2027, held at the Foundation's premises.

San Lorenzo: a neighborhood to explore

Visiting 6ARTISTA also means discovering San Lorenzo, a lively working-class and university district in Rome, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio. With its low-rise buildings, street art, artisan workshops, independent bookstores, and an authentic nightlife, it is a unique corner of the city. The Pastificio Cerere, with its iconic chimney and industrial spaces converted into artist studios, has become its cultural landmark; since the 1970s, artists of the so-called New Roman School have worked here.

Why it's worth a visit

Unlike large-scale events, 6ARTISTA offers direct contact with artistic research as it unfolds. On the exhibition opening day, talks and guided tours with the artists are scheduled, providing a precious opportunity to understand the processes behind the works. Admission is always free and the space is intimate: it can be visited comfortably in under an hour, leaving you with the impression of having met the generation currently shaping the future of Italian art.