Scarecrow Competition

A competition that blends art, school, and peasant tradition

The Scarecrow Competition is a fun, educational, and artistic event held in San Giovanni in Galilea, a hamlet of the Municipality of Borghi, in the heart of the Romagna hinterland in the province of Forlì-Cesena, Emilia-Romagna. The initiative, born from an idea by writer and artist Sabrina Foschini, is organized by the Renzi Museum together with the Friends of Dante Association, which curates the museum's cultural events, under the patronage of the Borghi municipal administration.

The scarecrow as a symbol of peasant roots

The competition is particularly aimed at local schools and features a scarecrow contest, where scarecrows are seen not just as rural objects but as true works of art. The stated goal is to promote the anthropological roots of peasant tradition: the scarecrow, once a figure present in every cultivated field, becomes an opportunity here to rediscover material culture, popular inventiveness, and the deep connection between local communities and the land. The works created by students and participants are exhibited and entered into the competition, enlivening the ancient village for an afternoon.

A setting of rare charm: Pieve Nova

The event takes place at the archaeological area of Pieve Nova di San Giovanni Battista, where excavations have brought to light the foundations of a single-nave Renaissance church. San Giovanni in Galilea, nicknamed the "balcony of Romagna" for its panoramic views stretching from the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, retains the charm of a small medieval center linked to the history of the Malatesta and Montefeltro families. The Renzi Museum, housed in a fifteenth-century building, holds important artifacts ranging from prehistory to the Roman and medieval periods, and serves as a natural cultural reference point for the entire area.

An event for families and schools

Designed primarily for young people and families, the Scarecrow Competition combines fun, participation, and education. Through exhibitions, awards ceremonies, and convivial moments, the initiative is a successful example of how a small municipality in Emilia-Romagna can transform a rural tradition into a cultural event that engages children, young people, and visitors, strengthening the sense of community and the village's identity.