Best events in Florence this December, 2020

Best events in Florence this December, 2020

bookmark
Mon 30 Nov 2020 11:29 AM

EXHIBITION/ We Rise by Lifting Others, Marinella Senatore

December 3-February 7, 2021

 

Lighting up Palazzo Strozzi’s courtyard

 

 

Palazzo Strozzi announces its bright new exhibition, following the completion of Tomás Saraceno’s cerebral Aria. Entering Palazzo Strozzi will be one of Italy’s most celebrated contemporary artists, Marinella Senatore (Cava de’ Tirreni, 1977). Renowned for combining several disciplines such as the visual arts, dance and theatre, this exhibition is a timely reflection on the idea of community and relationships at a time when physical distancing continues to have a devastating impact. Curated by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi’s director general Arturo Galansino, the show will consist of a large installation in the courtyard inspired by the popular southern Italian luminaria or “artist’s lighting” tradition. Workshops will be held on the themes of social activation and the construction of community built around the practice of performance art. 

 

Palazzo Strozzi,

Piazza degli Strozzi, Florence

 

 

 

DAZZLE/ F-Light Firenze

December 8-January 6, 2021

 

Florence gets festive with F-Light

 

 

The highly anticipated annual Firenze Light Festival will go ahead this year, so too will the magical switching on of the Christmas lights, starting with the tree in piazza Duomo. This year’s theme is “Sight, From the Dark Wood to the Light” as Florence is turned into an open-air museum with many of the city’s buildings and landmarks becoming the set for spectacular light shows. Stay tuned for more info.

 

Various locations

 

 

 

LISTEN/ Lucia, la radio al cinema 

December 12-13

 

ARMEN, the history in music of the Armenian diaspora, 12.40 December 13

 

The second edition of the international festival dedicated to listening, radio and podcasts brings together sounds, words, tradition and experimentation in a celebration of the art of storytelling without images. The festival will be both on air and online, live streamed from Manifattura Tabacchi and on luciafestival.org. Two days of live talks, masterclasses, guided listening sessions, podcasts, sound narratives and more make up the programme in a mind-opening exploration of different perspectives. 

 

 

CONTEMPORARY/ Protext! When Fabric Becomes a Manifesto

Until February 14, 2021

 

Güneş Terkol, Gap the Bridge, 2020. Courtesy of the artist.

 

 

The role of fabric in our lives is the focus of Protext!, curated by Camilla Mozzato and Marta Papini. Looking at how fabric creates debate in identity, production and environmental change, the show uses banners, t-shirts, hand-crafted tapestries and quilting to explore how textiles are harnessed to give voice to protests and in transgressive artistic practices. Works by Pia Camil, Otobong Nkanga, Tschabalala Self, Marinella Senatore, Serapis Maritime Corporation, Vladislav Shapovalov and Güneş Terkol feature in the exhibition with varied media and interpretations creating an intriguing display. Workshops and events are arranged around the set up with investigations into how fabrics are used to express dissent. 

 

Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci,

Prato

 

 

 

MUSEUMS/ MUS.E digital events 

Until January 26 

 

Virtual visits of Florentine landmarks

 

 

Cultural organization MUS.E have filled in the museum-shaped absence in our lives by devising a plentiful online series involving the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, Stefano Bardini Museum, Santa Maria Novella Museum, Brancacci Chapel, Palazzo Medici Riccardi Museum, Museo Novecento and MAD – Murate Art District as well as the Historic Centre of Florence – UNESCO World Heritage. Whether it’s the half-hour themed talks, virtual visits, discussions with curators and artists or informative art lessons, these weekly installments of art and culture bring longed-for culture to our homes. Events are free and held on Zoom with registration required by emailing info@muse.comune.fi.it.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY/ Ways to connect this winter

St Mark’s English Church has recently launched a culture and community programme to keep people close while apart. With yoga, meditation workshops, an armchair drama club, book club and concerts, the events are currently held online via Zoom and are free, although donations to assist St Mark’s during this difficult time are greatly appreciated. Email events@stmarksitaly.com to get involved or see their monthly calendar.

 

The British Institute of Florence keeps us entertained and connected with a packed cultural programme and discussion series. This month’s events include Ana Debenedetti’s lecture titled Rediscovering the Raphael Cartoons at the V&A at 6pm on December 9. Children will be delighted by the Christmas Storytimes Online, with classic winter tales being read aloud in English on the British Institute’s Facebook and YouTube channels at 5pm on December 3, 10 and 17.

 

The Breyer Center for Overseas Studies in Florence presents a series of Incontri a Palazzo, live talks from Florence with noted individuals. Talks are wide-ranging and vary from discussions about Blackness in Contemporary Italy, by Justin Randolph Thompson at 7 p.m. CET (10 a.m. PST) on December 9 to how bookstores and cooking classes have been reinvented in pandemic times. 

 

 

 

TF Together

Keeping the community together

 

 

TF Together was established in March to keep Florence lovers connected and entertained during lockdown. We are continuing the online chats—on YouTube (@theflorentinenews) and Facebook (@TFNews)—throughout the winter with a cornucopia of speakers on a variety of subjects. Subscribe to YouTube and never miss a moment.

All details at theflr.net/tftogether.

 

 

December 4, 5pm / The Florentine in 2021: Helen Farrell, editor in chief of The Florentine, talks with Kamin Mohammadi, writer, journalist and broadcaster, about the challenges of running a magazine in 2020 and the year ahead.

 

 

December 11, 6pm / Chianti Rùfina wine tasting: Four Chianti Rùfina wine producers—Colognole, Grignano, Selvapiana and Frascole—chat about their fine bottlings with wine educator Emily O’Hare and TF’s Helen Farrell. In partnership with Consorzio Chianti Rùfina. Order your wine (we’ll be tasting the differences between wineries on the left and right banks of the River Sieve!): www.chiantirufina.com/winebox.

Read more about Chianti Rùfina here

 

 

December 18, 6pm / A Christmas message with the Mayor of Florence: Dario Nardella speaks about administering Florence in 2020, practical ways to help the city and the months ahead.

Related articles

THINGS TO DO

Easter in Florence 2024

More than the exploding cart...

THINGS TO DO

Anselm Kiefer’s Fallen Angels at Palazzo Strozzi

25 large-scale works engage with themes of memory, history and war.

LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE