A occhi aperti. Disegnare il contemporaneo
A festival that explores comics as a tool for reflecting on the present, engaging young artists, schools, and local communities through exhibitions, talks, and workshops.
Starting date
7 April 2025Duration
14 monthsRealized by:
HamelinObjectives
Encouraging generational renewal in comics, by involving young artists, students, and alumni of the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts in the curatorial team and the selection of contemporary themes.
Promoting creativity among artists under 30, through a dedicated section for emerging European artists, workshops with professionals, and meetings with industry experts to support artistic growth.
Engaging young people with comics, through school workshops, thematic bibliographies available in libraries, and a series of meetings with artists and scholars to deepen their understanding of visual language.
Making comics more inclusive and accessible, by collaborating with organizations working on marginalization and disability to develop cultural activities open to all.
A occhi aperti. Disegnare il contemporaneo (“Eyes Wide Open. Drawing the Contemporary”) is a festival launched in 2022 as an evolution of the BilBOlBul International Comics Festival. In addition to promoting contemporary comics, the festival explores their role in interpreting the present and interacting with other visual and narrative languages. Each edition addresses a crucial theme of contemporary society, engaging new generations of artists to reflect on these issues. The initiative aims to expand the comics audience, with a particular focus on young people and schools, integrating high-quality cultural activities with educational programs and hands-on workshops.
The 2025 edition of the festival focuses on the relationships between body, environment, and landscape, offering a wide range of activities, including talks, exhibitions, workshops, and courses on visual literacy. The project actively involves students from the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts and young artists under 30, fostering dialogue between generations and experimenting with new artistic practices. Additionally, through collaborations with cultural institutions, libraries, and local associations, the festival aims to make comics accessible to a wider audience, including marginalized groups.
Key initiatives include masterclasses with artists and scholars, portfolio review sessions for young talents, in-depth public events, and exhibitions spread throughout the city. The project also promotes school workshops and thematic bibliographies to introduce adolescents to comics reading.
Particular attention is given to cultural accessibility, with activities dedicated to people with disabilities and marginalized communities, in collaboration with local social organizations. In this way, A occhi aperti establishes itself as an innovative and inclusive festival, enhancing comics as a tool for expression, dialogue, and cultural growth.
