A traveling Festival where the real protagonists are the artisans, that is the artisans of Made in Italy, who will exhibit their excellence, unique pieces and in limited edition: this is the intent of “Artieri Mercato Creativo”, the first Festival of Arts and Crafts of Sicily which for Christmas will stop in Catania, at Villa del Grado (Corso Italia n.209) from 17 to 24 December.

A wonderful location, surrounded by greenery, of a splendid Art Nouveau villa from the early 1900s in the heart of Catania for what promises to be a dizzying edition like the previous ones from Ortigia and Marzamemi: thirty artisans from all over Italy will be will exhibit their creations.

Crafts but not only. The intent of this traveling festival, which stops throughout Sicily but already has the desire to cross the Strait, is to also offer workshops and workshops of “Arts and Crafts” for adults and children, ranging from painting to ceramics, from engraving to creative sewing, from origami to the creation of musical instruments. The workshops, to be set up in the magical cloister of the Villa in full Christmas mood, will take place thanks to collaborations with the most important realities of the city of Catania: among the guests, in fact, the Marionettistica dei Fratelli Napoli, the Areasud associations (in partnership with the Zampognarea Festival) and Artea; there will be shows, book presentations and meetings with authors.

The participation of the Catania artist Irene Catania has also been confirmed, who for the occasion will collaborate with Zero Waste Sicily. Dissemination of the culture and ancient knowledge “of the past” but also respect for the environment, with the presence of an eco-Punto Artieri, which in this edition will focus on creative recycling and waste reduction.

“Artieri Christmas Edition – say the artistic directors of the Festival, Angela Cacciola and Maria Grazia Barbagallo – means craftsmanship, but also magic and elegance, like the one we will propose inside Villa del Grado, which will be set up as a magical Christmas village, taking up the enchanting atmosphere of the Christmas markets ready to welcome the families of Catania. Here you will find unique and unrepeatable gifts. Handicrafts are often the result of manual activities that are disappearing. When you give someone a handmade object, you are telling that person that they deserve something unique, special and unrepeatable ”. “You are not giving it any piece of plastic – conclude Cacciola and Barbagallo – but all the love, attention, mastery that that object breathed while it was being created”.

In a moment like the one we are experiencing, supporting artisan businesses and Made in Italy companies, envied all over the world, is really important for a sector that has been hit hard.
For more information on the event, which will fully comply with anti-covid regulations, and any updates, see the website www.artierimercatocreativo.it

Text and photos from the web