Emersi – Surface Cultures

A festival that brings the hinterland to the surface

Emersi – Surface Cultures is the performing arts festival that brings Gioia del Colle, in the province of Bari, to life at the end of summer. Dedicated to music, dance, and performance, the festival was born from a clear vision: to use culture to address the vulnerabilities of places that, like many towns in the Apulian hinterland, are rich in history and art but suffer from slow depopulation, fueled by a lack of opportunities for the youth. Hence the name «Emersi» (Emerged): to bring back to the surface what risks remaining submerged—talents and communities.

Where it all happens

The heart of the festival is the Via Sandro Pertini Amphitheatre, but Emersi’s programmatic choice is not to stop at the historic center: events also reach the city's outskirts, bringing the artistic scene where it usually doesn't arrive. It is a way to return public space to the inhabitants and to invite those who live in Gioia del Colle, especially young people between twenty and thirty, to reclaim their own spaces.

The arts on the program

Over the course of three days, different languages alternate, with a keen eye on emerging talents in the performing arts:

• Contemporary dance and movement performances
• Live music and sound projects
• Street arts and widespread performances
• Interdisciplinary projects that weave together body, sound, and heritage

Who organizes it

The festival is promoted by the Associazione Culturale B-ped ETS together with the RE.MI. association, under the direction of Manuela Victoria Colacicco. B-ped is dedicated to cultivating emerging talents in the field of performing arts and promoting social inclusion through culture, working within communities so that talent can flourish and every voice can be heard. Since its first edition, the festival has involved artists from all over Italy and hundreds of spectators.

Within the summer of Gioia del Colle

Emersi is one of the flagship events of Joha AeStas, the rich summer calendar of the Municipality of Gioia del Colle which, between late June and mid-September, offers dozens of events dedicated to literature, music, cinema, performance, and the promotion of the territory. Within this calendar, Emersi represents the most contemporary and experimental soul, capable of engaging with the historical identity of this corner of Puglia, dominated by the famous Swabian Castle of Frederick II.