Dest'Arte — Inter-municipal Performing Arts Festival

A widespread festival in the Palermo hinterland

Dest'Arte is the Inter-municipal Performing Arts Festival that brings life to three small towns in the Palermo province every summer: Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Vicari, and Mezzojuso. Launched in 2022, the festival is conceived and directed by the Agricantus cooperative of Palermo, an organization with nearly forty years of experience in cultural promotion, under the artistic direction of Vito Meccio with the collaboration of Salvatore Ferlita.

The festival stems from a synergy between Agricantus and the local administrations of the three towns, supported by public funding from the Ministry of Culture's Single Fund for Entertainment, specifically dedicated to peripheral areas. Its stated goal is to enhance places where the desire for community remains strong, using live performance as a concrete tool for social and cultural regeneration.

Travelling shows and free admission

Dest'Arte is a travelling festival: the same performances are replicated across the three towns in evocative outdoor spaces, such as the Municipal Amphitheatre in Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Piazza Francesco Spallitta in Mezzojuso, and the courtyard of Palazzo Pecoraro Maggi in Vicari. All events are free of charge, a choice that reflects the project's popular and inclusive spirit.

The programme alternates between theatre, music, and storytelling, featuring prominent names from the Sicilian and national scenes. Highlights from recent editions include Sergio Vespertino with his tribute to his home city, "Strafelicissima Palermo," and Peppe Servillo, accompanied by Cristiano Califano, in the musical show "Napulitanata," dedicated to the great classics of Neapolitan song.

Workshops and focus on children

The festival reserves ample space for young people and families, offering free theatre workshops and shows designed for children, such as the theatrical fairy tale "La Principessa Stonata." The programming weaves entertainment with an educational journey, fostering growth for the younger generations in the small towns involved.

A cultural stronghold for small communities

In a territory characterized by villages at risk of depopulation, Dest'Arte represents a precious cultural stronghold. For a few weeks between summer and autumn, Ventimiglia di Sicilia and the other towns in the network become meeting places where the town square returns to being a shared space, and live performance becomes a tool for collective identity, following the best traditions of Sicily.