Giuseppe Sciuti International Painting Prize

An award in the spirit of Giuseppe Sciuti

The Giuseppe Sciuti International Painting Prize is an event dedicated to the visual arts held in Zafferana Etnea, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Catania nestled on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, in the heart of Sicily. The award was established to honor the memory of Giuseppe Sciuti (Zafferana Etnea, 1834 - Rome, 1911), a painter of humble origins who, trained by masters like Giuseppe Rapisardi and Giuseppe Distefano, brought the name of his Etnean village far beyond regional and national borders, establishing himself as a protagonist of 19th-century Italian painting with vast historical canvases and decorative cycles.

Three awards for contemporary art

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Zafferana Etnea in collaboration with the Giuseppe Sciuti Artistic-Cultural Association, under the artistic direction of Professor Paolo Giansiracusa. The prize is divided into three sections that capture the state of contemporary figurative art:

• Lifetime Achievement Award, conferred to an artist with a long and consistent career;
• Honorary Mention, reserved for a personal and visionary style;
• Youth Creativity Award, which highlights emerging talents.

A jury of critics, professors, and cultural professionals, chaired by the Mayor, selects the winners from prominent figures on the Italian and international scene, keeping the dialogue between figurative tradition and contemporary languages alive.

The ceremony at the Town Hall

The highlight is the award ceremony held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, generally in early November. The evening alternates speeches by the organizing committee and the artistic director with the presentation of the awards, accompanied by musical interludes. It is an occasion that intertwines the rediscovery of Sciuti's legacy with the promotion of current painting research, in an intimate and engaging setting that involves the local community.

Art and Etna in Zafferana

Known as the "pearl of Etna" and famous for its festivals, honey, and volcanic products, Zafferana Etnea confirms its cultural vocation with this prize. The event is part of a calendar that makes the small Etnean town a reference point for artistic and traditional events in the Province of Catania, offering visitors and enthusiasts the opportunity to combine the discovery of the volcanic territory with the celebration of a great name in Sicilian painting.