Art is Not Water

A grassroots festival in the heart of Piceno

Art is Not Water is the summer event that enlivens the historic center of Spinetoli, a small municipality in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, every August. Founded in 2012, the festival is conceived, organized, and managed entirely by volunteers from the Officina 177 Cultural Association, a youth organization that has chosen to stay and invest in its territory instead of leaving it. The result is a self-financed, free, and deeply identity-driven event that has earned a permanent place in the cultural calendar of the Piceno region.

Music, art, and flavors in Piazza Roma

The festival's headquarters is Piazza Roma, in the historic center of Spinetoli, which for three nights is filled with stages, stalls, and lights. The formula combines different languages: evening concerts with artists from the Italian independent, singer-songwriter, and hip-hop scene; art exhibitions and an illustration market; tastings of local wines at the association's cellar; and a curated gastronomic offer, with typical dishes and genuine cuisine.

• Free concerts every evening
• Illustration and art market
• Local wine tastings and aperitifs
• Dinner and street food at affordable prices
• Convivial atmosphere in the village streets

A stage for the Italian indie and hip-hop scene

Over the years, "Art is Not Water" has hosted important names from the Italian music scene, from songwriting to conscious hip-hop: past guests include Bugo, Dente, Giancane, 99 Posse, Claver Gold, Micah P. Hinson, Frankie Hi-Nrg Mc, Meganoidi, and many others. A lineup always focused on quality and research, which has made the festival a reference point for fans of independent music throughout the Marche region and beyond.

The spirit of Officina 177

What makes this event special is the spirit that animates it. Everything is managed by volunteers, the prices for food and drinks are deliberately kept low, and entry to the concerts is free. The organization's invitation is simple: experience the village, support the initiative by consuming on-site, and let yourself be surprised by a carefully crafted program. For Spinetoli and the entire Province of Ascoli Piceno, "Art is Not Water" is now an unmissable summer event in the Marche region.