GUIDED TOURS/ Waiting for Spring: A merry go-round at the Uffizi Galleries
Delve deep into the Uffizi’s masterpieces in the ‘Waiting for Spring: A merry go-round at the Uffizi Galleries’ virtual series. The first themes include Love (for Valentine’s Day) and Carnival. The online guided tours bring families and children from all over the world (virtually) together with each session lasting 30-40 minutes, exploring different paintings, subjects and themes, lead by an expert from the Department of Education. A cost of 40 euro covers the maximum number of participants which is 10 children. The conversations are available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and Italian sign language. Book by writing to ga-uff.scuolagiovani@beniculturali.it or see here for more information.
DOCUMENTARIES/ Animation via Più Compagnia
February 12-March 12
Short animated documentaries come to the online Più Compagnia platform. Curated by Pinangelo Marino in collaboration with Fondazione Sistema Toscana, the virtual exhibition will be dedicated to short animated documentaries and other artistic works, in particular ‘La terra trema’ in homage to the 1948 film by Luchino Visconti. The 14 films, selected at international festivals, are not usually visible on mainstream platforms, giving viewers a rare opportunity to enjoy these award-winning works. Conversations in free streaming also form part of the line-up.
CREATIVE/ Female Artisans in Florence
Happy Lockdown, an exhibition by Ink-P fills the new Female Artisans in Florence space until February 13, featuring a series of hand-printed screen prints inspired by the city’s Palazzo doors during lockdown. At 3pm on February 14, there will be a screen printing course (obligatory booking on eventbrite) with more courses set to start that include a singing course and yoga with live music (in compliance with Covid regulations). A new exhibition titled Transeo by Olga Ermol will be launched on February 18 that will be on display until March 20. You can also enjoy their new FAF shop featuring works by local female artisans onsite. Keep updated on FAF’s activities on their Facebook and Instagram.
Borgo San Frediano 131/r, Florence
FILM/ Kibaka Florence for Young 2021 – African Cinema Festival
February 15
The free, day-long and virtual African Cinema festival will be hosted on the PiùCompagnia platform, featuring five award-winning titles, events and insights with Afro-European directors, actors and writers. Formed in 2011 to present cinema created by African and international directors, multifaceted African culture is depicted in the varied line-up. In the Kimbundu language, spoken by the Bantu ethno-linguistic group in north-central Angola, kibaka means “chair”, referring to the ancient custom of the tribe’s elders telling stories in front of an audience of seated young people to pass on the traditions of the land and their ancestors.
EXHIBITION/ Florence in the world, the world in Florence
February 11-19
The Life Beyond Tourism-Travel to Dialogue Movement in collaboration with the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation has created a project inviting you to rethink ways of travelling. The much-loved city of Florence is the subject of 14 photographic triptychs by Corinna Del Bianco that capture the beauty of Florence and its surroundings. The interactive digital exhibition intends to create a bridge between cultures and countries, inviting a reflection on how we travel and creating a dialogue around the subject.
Auditorium al Duomo,
via de ‘Cerretani 54r, Florence
MUSEUM/ Accademia Gallery reopens
From February 16
The Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence is carrying out extensive works during the pandemic-induced months of closure. Now set to reopen its doors on February 16, the public will discover a new layout in addition to the Musical Instruments Museum. Four hundred and fifty works were relocated from the Sala del Colosso and the Gipsoteca in order to carry out necessary structural architectural restoration. With the works due to continue until July 2021, the pieces formerly held in these rooms now occupy the temporary exhibition spaces. Lorenzo Bartolini’s plaster busts depicting nobles, intellectuals, nymphs and mythological figures now enrich the collection in a new, more visible position, having been taken down from the high shelves on which they were placed. New lighting enhances 16th- century paintings, allowing visitors to scrutinize even the most minute of details. The current layout will remain in place until the completion of the structural works in July 2021 when a new air conditioning system will be inaugurated throughout the whole gallery. Please be advised that national legislation currently enables museums to reopen in “yellow zone” conditions and the February 16 reopening will be dependent on this.
Galleria dell’Accademia,
Via Ricasoli 58/60, Florence
ONLINE/ Community events
TF Together – The Florentine’s online events series viewable on our YouTube channel (don’t forget to subscribe!) continues with Razzismo Brutta Storia and teaching Anti-racism in Italy, a talk with Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfau (Phd student in Social Sciences) about the educational tools and activities in schools carried out by the association Razzismo Brutta Storia, dedicated to combating racism and discrimination at 5pm on February 12. The updated programme is available here.
The British Institute of Florence
The ever-popular Wednesday Lectures Series continues. At 6pm on February 17, Antonella Bundu will give a talk on Alessandro Sinigaglia and Florentine Resistance, looking at the Black partisan who participated in the liberation of Florence in 1944. There’s something for little ones on February 18 at 5pm: a storytime for 4-8 year olds livestreamed on The British Institute’s Facebook page, with a reading of Jazz Age Josephine by Jonah Winter. The lectures take place on Zoom; donations requested. For more information, visit their website.
St Marks English Church
The Florence Writers group resume their cultural endeavours with a poetry and prose evening on February 11 at 8pm. The evening will involve a reading of favourite passages and poems on the theme of love. Yoga with Kamin Mohammadi will take place on February 12 at 5pm with Choir at 6pm the same day and there will be a recital on YouTube at 6pm on February 11. Held on Zoom, events are free with a suggested donation to raise funds for St Mark’sEmail events@stmarksitaly.com or see here.