Scomod* Free Thought Festival

Scomod*, free thought arrives in Cherasco

In 2026, the town of Cherasco, a jewel of the lower Piedmont region overlooking the Langhe in the province of Cuneo, will host the first edition of the Scomod* Free Thought Festival. The title is intentionally provocative, with an asterisk inviting us to look beyond stereotypes—a theme that runs throughout the entire program. The goal is to bring an event capable of addressing the most current and challenging social issues to a provincial setting.

Four meetings from April to September

The festival consists of four free events spread throughout 2026, all starting at 5:30 PM. The meetings will take place in two iconic locations in the historic center: the evocative Church of S. Gregorio and Piazza Nicola Vercellone, known to locals as the Madonnina. Each session features a guest speaker alongside a moderator, fostering an open dialogue with the audience.

The themes: gaze, masculinity, mind, and language

• Liberating the Gaze — deconstructing the male gaze through words and images, with Elena Ravera.
• Boys Don't Cry — why toxic masculinity is a trap for everyone, with Alessiomaronn.
• Emerging from the Darkness — the dark side of the mind and addiction, with Giulia Caterina Boverio.
• I Am Not a 'Mister' — language as a vehicle for devaluation, with Antonella Germini.

A festival that builds networks and does good

Admission to every event is by voluntary donation: proceeds are donated to a different organization working on the evening's specific theme, ranging from Casa Pride in Bra to Maschile Plurale in Turin, the Team Rogoredo of the Casa del Giovane in Pavia, and the Mai + Sole association in Savigliano. This choice links critical thinking with concrete local commitment.

Dedicated to Graziella Zocchi

Conceived by Alice Fiorini with the support of cultural delegate Mara Degiorgis, Scomod* is dedicated to the memory of Graziella Zocchi, an internationally renowned dancer and pioneer of dance therapy in Cherasco. As Fiorini recalls, "Graziella taught us that free thought is not an abstraction, but a courageous movement of both body and mind." This debut confirms that even small towns in Piedmont can be protagonists of cultural life.