Kollatino Undergdound

Kollatino Underground, founded in Rome in 2003, is a symbol of metropolitan creative activism, promoting contemporary artistic research and cultural experimentation in urban peripheries. As a platform for cultural avant-garde and a social laboratory, it supports free expression and innovation through festivals, training courses, workshops, and multidisciplinary events. Its activities focus on inclusion and accessibility, engaging vulnerable communities and enhancing performing arts as a universal language, transforming public spaces into places of participation. Committed to urban regeneration, Kollatino Underground builds bridges between culture and territory, collaborating with local institutions and fostering social change through the arts. The association stands out for the strong female presence in its operational team and its commitment to involving female artists, educators, and professionals, creating spaces for visibility, growth, and exchange. It adopts an inclusive and conscious language to promote a respectful approach toward all individuals and communities it engages with. Its cultural and social initiatives are characterized by a communication style that reflects the values of mutual respect, preventing discrimination and reinforcing the idea that every individual, regardless of gender, has equal dignity and rights. The association promotes social cohesion through activities that encourage integration and dialogue among different realities, paying attention to the needs of all members and fostering active participation. Furthermore, it supports the continuous education of women in its network, offering learning and professional development opportunities. These policies not only promote cultural growth but also create a safe and stimulating environment. Brief History Kollatino Underground was born in 2001, when a small but determined group of young people decided to launch a socio-cultural and sports project, starting with the urban regeneration of the abandoned basements of the former Giorgi technical institute—a neglected public space in Via Collatina, already repurposed for emergency housing, in a peripheral neighborhood lacking cinemas, theaters, or concert halls. In a few years, the association became an important gathering point, overcoming the challenges and barriers typical of peripheral neighborhoods, such as the lack of cultural venues and the economic hardships that often prevent access to private cultural institutions in the city center. One of its main objectives has been to adapt artistic proposals to an audience unaccustomed to engaging with perspectives different from mainstream television fiction, often the only alternative for evening entertainment. This social work, carried out through artistic messages, has aimed to spark revolutionary imagination and creativity. THE ASSOCIATION KOLLATINO UNDERGROUND HAS OPERATED WITH A VISION OF METROPOLITAN CREATIVE ACTIVISM, EMBRACING EMERGING, VITAL, AND UNCONVENTIONAL ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS, DEVELOPING A PERMANENT CIRCUIT OF EXPERIMENTATION AND RESEARCH, AND BECOMING A SPACE FOR THE PRODUCTION, DIFFUSION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF YOUTH CULTURE. Fields of Action and Activities The association’s activities aim to enrich and innovate the collective imagination of peripheral and non-central areas, inspired by interactions with individuals, groups, and artist collectives exploring circus arts, theater, street art, music, and performance. A shared goal unites these initiatives: to transform reality and critique the status quo—where "reality" represents the dominant moral framework that imposes limits, barriers, rules, and boundaries on free, creative, daily, and perpetually revolutionary thought. Culture - Live Performance Social Impact: Artistic Training, Social Circus, Participatory Workshops The association’s activities are both recreational and educational, including: - Multidisciplinary festivals - Training courses in performing arts professions (technical, production, organization, communication) - Short-term thematic events The selection of formats and messages aligns with the artistic research themes of the organization, which focus on: - Peripheral Imaginaries:Exploring artistic creation born from marginalized neighborhoods, gender perspectives, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and social contexts. The analysis extends to themes of "exclusion" and "inclusion" and the barriers—linguistic, racial, age-related, or economic—that hinder cultural access, participation, and representation. - New Experimental Formats: Investigating new poetics and aesthetics, primarily through participatory formats in unconventional spaces. These experiments emphasize audience interaction, improvisation, play, and local engagement. - Wordless Performance & "Tout Public" Language: Artistic actions and shows that transcend language barriers, accessible to all ethnicities, languages, and ages. These performances evoke surreal imagery and delicate imbalances that defy conventional grammar, relying solely on the power of suggestion and emotion—a truly universal, intercultural language. In marginalized areas, where artistic action transforms spatial perception and usage, these performances redefine public spaces into new states of being. Objectives: - Introduce high-quality circus arts to peripheral audiences**, often excluded from international contemporary circus circuits. - Celebrate circus arts by conveying their aesthetic, human, social, and innovative values. - Promote international engagement, featuring European and international artists and exclusive performances. - Embrace multidisciplinarity, blending contemporary circus with experimental theater and poetry—accessible yet profound, spectacular yet meaningful. - Encourage training and cross-pollination, offering afternoon circus arts workshops for children (ages 3-13) and adults, culminating in an original production presented during the festival. - Foster social impact, bridging popular and contemporary culture while operating in a "difficult" territory with limited cultural infrastructure and providing free access to all audiences. - Ensure artistic inclusivity, engaging diverse age groups with captivating, entertaining, and thought-provoking performances, with special attention to children and adolescents. Productions: - "Anomalie: Experimentation in the Periphery" Recognized by the Italian Ministry of Culture as a Festival of Contemporary Circus (Art. 32), funded by the National Performing Arts Fund (FUS) for . Organized with support from the Estate Romana (Rome’s summer cultural program) since 2007. "Anomalie" is dedicated to contemporary circus and social circus, particularly in peripheral areas. The 2025 edition marks the festival’s 19th anniversary, highlighting its focus on social circus and participatory workshops. [Website: www.anomaliecircusfest.net](https://www.anomaliecircusfest.net) - Haiku Festival of Ephemeral Arts (2023) Supported by the Ministry of Culture’s “Live Performance Outside the City Center” program, this initiative brings immersive artistic experiences beyond urban centers. Training Programs 1. **Street Art** – Led by #seiunozeroartcrew, a workshop exploring mural painting, stencil, and poster art, where participants express social and personal messages through urban art. 2. **Little Circus – Juggling, Balance, and Cooperation** – A creative journey introducing circus disciplines like juggling, acrobatics, and balancing, fostering motor skills, self-confidence, and teamwork in a fun, inclusive atmosphere. 3. **Masterclass by MeltingPot** – A training workshop on social, cultural, and artistic themes, offering new skills and fostering critical reflection. 4. **Circus Social Hub – Digital Anomalies** – A training program on digital content creation, teaching participants to use social platforms to tell stories and promote artistic projects. 5. **Radio Anomala – By Radio Città Aperta** – A radio workshop covering creative writing, audio editing, and podcast production, using sound as a tool for expression and storytelling. 6. **SpazioAgito – Documentary Filmmaking Workshop** – A practical training in filming, editing, and storytelling, producing videos on community stories, rights, and social transformation. Executive Director: Chiara Crupi Email: Phone: