ENTREPRENEURSHIP/ Girls Night Out
5–9pm, July 17
Girls’ Night Out at The Student Hotel
An event targeted at female millennials studying abroad in Florence who, for one night only, will have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive tour inside the award-winning Student Hotel followed by interactive and engaging workshops. The Student Hotel has brought together four leading businesswomen who are breaking down barriers in Italy to discuss fitness and health, fashion and style, budgeting and time management and career tips. The night will also include raffles and prizes, one of them being a free night’s stay at the hotel. Get to know more about the business world while meeting like-minded young women. 8.50 euro gets you access to the workshop, a Q&A with the speakers, refreshments upon arrival and an aperitivo.
The Student Hotel Florence Lavagnini
Viale Spartaco Lavagnini, 70, Florence
OPERA/ From the Arno to the Danube: musical rivers
9pm, July 17, 18 + 19
Opera evenings
In collaboration with the Il Trillo music school, the summer singing program from the Bel Canto Institute of New York puts on some concerts. With music from Rossini, Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti, Jane Klaviter from the Metropolitan Opera of New York uses her innovative artistic direction to provide a series of delightful evenings of classic opera with various maestros, including Cynthia Hoffmann from the Juilliard School and a faculty member at Manhattan School of Music and The Curtis Institute of Music; Eva Hesse Thaysen from the Royal Danish Academy of Music; and Leonardo De Lisi from the Florence conservatory.
Chiesa Evangelica
via de’ Benci, 9 Florence
PERFORMING ARTS/ Florenstieri – I still don’t know if I’ll ever want to leave here
First entrance at 7.30pm and Second at 8.30pm, July 18
Florenstieri
Palazzo Spinelli’s 2019 master’s programme in event and show management presents an evening of dance, music and theatre. The stories of so-called “Florenstieri”, people who have adopted Florence as their home in a reciprocal agreement with the city that adopts the itinerant traveller in equal measure, are presented through dance and music in Opus Ballet’s performance, as well as readings and performances by actress Camilla Bonacchi and saxophonist Espinoza Grechi Dimitiri. Booking is essential and available on eventbrite.com searching for Florenstieri.
Cimitero Evangelico agli Allori
184 via Senese, Florence
FILM/ Cinema Tascabile
9.30pm, July 15 – August 8
Cinema Tascabile
A pocket-sized, portable cinema that magically projects films from a vintage VW Camper Van? Cuter and more compact than that is hard to find! Cinema Tascabile brings the outdoor cinema craze sweeping Florence by storm to the outer neighbourhoods for those that don’t want to cycle or walk half an hour to reach one of the city centre’s many screens. Showing mostly Italian films in the original language, entrance is free and there’s more information on estatefiorentina.it or Cinema Tascabile’s Facebook page.
Various locations around the city.
LGBTQIA+/ ULTRA
9pm–7am, July 19
Martina Melchionno, Alice
Where Love is Illegal is a reportage project by New Zealand photographer Robin Hammond, who has captured personal accounts from gay communities in 70 countries where same-sex relationships are considered a criminal offence. These are 17 nations where circulating information about the LGBTQIA+ community is forbidden and 12 in which homosexual acts are punishable by death. This is more than an exhibition, but a worldwide social media, awareness-building and fundraising campaign, in partnership with the Witness Change team. The night spans from 9pm to 7am at Prato’s trendy Associazione Sedici, nestled into old industrial buildings, making it the perfect setting for not only Robin Hammond’s exhibition but works by Vincent Gouriou, Florian Hets, Martina Melchionno, short films from the Queer Video Contest, DJ sets and musical accompaniments from experimental electro and jazz musician SADI Oortmood. All the exhibitions will be on display, by appointment, until July 28.
Associazione Sedici
Corte Genova
via Genova, Prato
MUSIC/ Santa Valvola Fest 2019
July 20–21
Santa Valvola Festival
This marks the fifth edition of this free music festival that takes place in Prato’s Tobbiana neighbourhood. There are 2 stages, 14 bands, 2 DJ sets and stand-up comedians as well as great street food, merchandise, music and comic-book stands. Santa Valvola Records is an independent label that recently has branched out into event and concert management and puts love and passion into every gig they organize. This year, expect to see GOMMA, Dino Fumaretto, Cayman the Animal and SFKNG among many other indie, pop and rock bands. More information at Santa Valvola Fest 2019 Facebook page.
via Spina, Prato
