Incontr'Arti – Urban Tales and Stories from the World

A widespread festival in the Roman suburbs

Incontr'Arti – Urban Tales and Stories from the World is a performing arts festival curated by the Artenova ETS Cultural Association. Every year, between late September and mid-October, it brings theatre, music, and dance to the Pisana district, within Rome's Municipio XII. The heart of the event is Largo Ludovico Quaroni, an urban space that transforms into an open-air stage for several weeks, complemented by the theatre of the Renato Villoresi Middle School on Via della Pisana. The festival was born from a clear vision: to make the suburbs not a margin, but a hub of culture, encounter, and community.

A multidisciplinary and free program

Under the artistic direction of Gino Auriuso, the festival's common thread is "urban tales" and "stories from the world": narratives that speak of cities, suburbs, and plural identities. The lineup is intentionally diverse and explores numerous artistic languages:

• theatre, children's theatre, and storytelling;
• classical music, Italian singer-songwriters, and swing;
• dance, Argentine tango, and street arts;
• meetings with writers and literary readings;
• choral singing and folk music from various traditions.

All events are free of charge, with the stated goal of making culture accessible to all residents of the district and the city. In past editions, the festival has hosted prominent figures from the Italian cultural scene alongside local theatre companies and musical groups.

Culture and focus on the suburbs

Promoted as part of the cultural initiatives supported by Roma Capitale, Incontr'Arti stands out for its social vocation: inclusion, socialization, and participation are the keywords of a project that considers art a community tool. The programming combines evening open-air shows in Largo Quaroni with indoor events in the school theatre, engaging audiences of all ages, from families with children to theatre and music enthusiasts.

The Pisana district and Municipio XII

The festival takes place in the Pisana area, in the western quadrant of the Capital, a residential area of Municipio XII in the Lazio region. Bringing a festival of this quality to a suburban context means restoring centrality to a territory often far from the major cultural circuits of the historic centre. Over the years, Incontr'Arti has become a highly anticipated appointment for the local community, capable of combining artistic quality with strong roots in the urban and social fabric of the district.