Florìda
Florìda
Florìda is a cultural space located in the old Jewish Ghetto in Genoa's historic center. It is an experimental project that aims to promote social and urban development through the tools of art, co-creation, and international artistic mobility. The goal is to enhance new lifestyles and enjoyment of the territory by counteracting the tendency of its inhabitants to abandon the historic center, with a particular focus on young people. The association hosts artists in residence, organizes exhibitions, and facilitates artistic collaborations to strengthen the local social and creative network, believing that artistic practice is an opportunity for contamination and enrichment for all parties involved.
Since 2023, Florìda has hosted ten artists in residence, realized three international exhibitions, three artistic residencies for Academy students, and five 'Small Talks', a free and open dinner formula animated by a dialogue on artistic practices and contemporary cities. The association has also collaborated with several organizations and cultural institutions operating in the historic center of Genoa.
They will be rolling out the program as both an invite-only and an open call. If you did not find a residency call that fits you and you want to express interest in our AiR program, the organisers encourage you to express your interest throughout the year if you have a project or are interested in working in our shared studio for a while.
The yearly program includes four Artist Residencies. 1 to 4 artists will work together each trimester in the studio space.
They invite artists to present themselves and their work to the local community. The residency also offers the possibility to teach a public workshop and perform or make an exhibition during the residency. However, all of the above are optional, and the organisers will discuss this matter with every artist personally. They usually propose to have a middle term even in dialogue with the local community and a final exhibition to share the residency's results.
The works created during the residency will remain with the artist. Florìda is not a commercial gallery and cannot make sales during the residency. Artists who intend to sell their works will be responsible for the selling process.
Florìda currently does not have its accommodation. It collaborates with independent realities operating in the sector to have a careful and sustainable approach to the development of the neighbourhood and the city by countering the idea of gentrification and commercial speculation. They cannot afford to cover housing costs excused from Open Calls, but they would be happy to help you find accommodation if they select your project in the case of a self-initiated application.
Florìda collaborates with an accommodation facility about 50 meters from the studio, in the heart of the Medieval ghetto. It provides three bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a breakfast corner, a shared living room, and a laundry. This structure is very relevant to Florìda’s project because it involves a family of neighborhood residents who run it and support sustainable territorial development in contrast to mass tourism. The proximity of the structure to the studio, the beauty of its spaces, and above all, the fact that the artists can live in the ghetto, experiencing the neighborhood and enriching it with their presence, are the criteria that led the hosts to choose this accommodation partner for the project.
The project promotes the participation of A&CPs with disabilities. The studio is located in a ground-floor space and guarantees accessibility for people with mobility impairments. The Association has worked on reducing architectural barriers to ensure access to almost all spaces. In case of selection of A&CPs with mobility impairments, the choice of accommodation will shift to a barrier-free apartment situated just 800 mt from the studio.
The studio space comprises working and exhibition areas, a design lab, a workshop, an office space, a kitchen, and a restroom. It is designed to be a flexible system that can be adapted to the needs of different guests, creating opportunities to rethink and personalize the space based on different kinds of projects and practices. The studio and its equipment, including tools and utensils, are free and accessible 24/7 for the A&CPs. Members of the host association will be present throughout the residency, sharing the workspace: in addition to the mentor, they will be available to support the A&CPs in case of need during the residency period, including support and recommendations on administrative and logistic issues. Florìda also offers connection and access to some public and private archives or guided museum visits with experts if needed for research.