As in previous years, the XIV edition of FOTOGRAFIA EUROPEA is enriched by CIRCUITO OFF, an extended collective event and creative showcase for professionals, amateurs and upcoming artists that includes over 300 exhibitions, independent and self-organised events, promoted by galleries, associations, public and private entities across the province. These enliven the opening weeks of the festival until 9 June, offering visitors a wide selection of talks and conferences by leading Italian cultural figures, workshops, guided visits with photographers and curators, and musical and photographic performances. The Circuito Off programme includes music and performances across the city on the evening of April 27.

During the opening days, the city centre and squares of Reggio Emilia host events, a concert, performances, light shows and more. Throughout the weekend the artists and curators will guide visitors to discover the exhibitions. Furthermore, the Chiostri di San Pietro will host three major conferences: the photographer Oliviero Toscani and the director of Sky Arte Roberto Pisoni will discuss the role of photography in contemporary society (Saturday, April 13 at 11 am); Mario Calabresi and Michele Smargiassi on the relationship between word and photography (Saturday, April 13 at 5pm) and Mogol on ties and intimacy in Italian song (Sunday, April 14 at 4pm).

This year sees the return of the space dedicated to independent photography publishing – the PARENTESI book fair – with exhibitions, presentations, book signings and talks. One of the events not to be missed is PORTFOLIO REVIEW at Biblioteca Panizzi, organised with Cortona On the Move as part of the ‘Sistema Festival’, the network of Italian photography festivals of which Fotografia Europea and Cortona On the Move are both members.

Photo editors and national and international experts will be available on April 12, 13, and 14 to review the work of photographers, both professional and not, providing tips and suggestions. Among this year’s readers are Krzysztof Candrowicz (Photofestiwal Lodz), Jim Casper (LensCulture), Chiara Dall’Olio, Claudia Fini and Alice Bergomi for Fondazione Fotografia Modena, Renata Ferri (Io Donna), George King (Unseen), Martino Marangoni (Fondazione Marangoni), Marina Paulenka (Organ Vida, Zagabria), Mario Peliti (Peliti Associati), Arianna Rinaldo (Cortona On The Move), Fiona Rogers (Magnum Photos), Chiara Ruberti (Photolux, Lucca) and Ilaria Speri (curator e producer). The special reader on 12 April is Larry Fink!

Registration is now open to the workshops organized in collaboration with Spazio Fotografia San Zenone. For the occasion, Antoine D’Agata (April 12–13–14), Davide Monteleone and Simona Ghizzoni (May 3–4–5) will be in Reggio Emilia.

FOTOGRAFIA EUROPEA continues to open its horizons to the region’s important cultural and artistic institutions. The Collezione Maramotti di Reggio Emilia is hosting two exhibitions: Margherita Moscardini, who has conducted complex research on Jordan’s Za'atari refugee camp, takes inspiration from the mapping of courtyards with fountains built by Syrian refugees inside their homes: Atelier dell’Errore BIG, a professional visual arts school founded in 2015, inspired by the experience of Atelier dell’Errore, a visual workshop dedicated to children certified by Children’s Neuropsychiatry.

Linea di Confine per la Fotografia Contemporanea di Rubiera (RE) presents a thematic itinerary through its collection of photographs and videos, curated by Antonella Frongia, and centred on the themes of existence, interpersonal bonds and social relations. The photographers featured include Fabrizio Albertini, Cesare Ballardini, Lewis Baltz, Marina Ballo Charmet, Olivo Barbieri, Tim Davis, Paola De Pietri, Vittore Fossati, Marcello Galvani, Frank Gohlke, William Guerrieri, Guido Guidi, Axel Hütte, Allegra Martin, Francesco Neri, Sabrina Ragucci, Marco Signorini, Michael Schmidt, Stephen Shore and Raimond Wouda.

FMAV - FONDAZIONE MODENA ARTI VISIVE takes part in FOTOGRAFIA EUROPEA 2019 with a homage to Franco Fontana (1933) one of Modena’s most celebrated artists. Until 25 August, Palazzina dei Giardini, MATA - Ex Manifattura Tabacchi and Sala Grande di Palazzo Santa Margherita will host the exhibition Sintesi (“Synthesis”), which explores 60 years of Fontana’s career, highlighting his relationships with some of the most appreciated photographers of the 1900s.

The exhibitions of MAR - Museo d’arte della città di Ravenna revolve around the retrospectives of Oliviero Toscani, Più di 50 anni di magnifici fallimenti (“Over 500 Years of Wonderful Failures”), and Arrigo Dolcini whose career started in Marina di Ravenna in the 1940s. The latter includes a selection of photographs belonging to the Fondo Arrigo Dolcini, acquired by the Fototeca dell’Istituzione Biblioteca Classense of Ravenna.

Osservatorio fotografico (Ravenna’s permanent research laboratory on photography and publishing) curates the exhibition LOOKING ON. Sguardi e prospettive sulla fotografia emergente in Italia (“LOOKING ON. Views and Perspectives on Emerging Photography in Italy”).
CSAC, the Centre for Communication Studies and Archives of the University of Parma, presents “Nuove figure in un interno” until 12 May while, at the Foundation MAST. Manifattura di Arti, Sperimentazione e Tecnologia in Bologna, you can visit until 22 April “Nature & Politics”, a selection of large colour images representing avant-garde, experimentation and innovation by German photographer, Thomas Struth. Produced in centres dedicated to industry and scientific research across the world, the photographs “question the idea that technological development is the only promise of human progress.”