- About
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© Teresa Licciardi, 2019
© Diego Costantini, 2018
© Andrea Croce, 2018
© Teresa Licciardi, 2019
© Teresa Licciardi, 2019
© Teresa Licciardi, 2019
© Diego Costantini, 2018
Carlotta Valdinoci, Un ricAMO tutto per lei. Residency program 2018, Roccacaramanico. © Photo: Diego Costantini, 2018
© Alessandro Chiappanuvoli, 2022
© Marie Lucas, 2022
© Alessandro Chiappanuvoli, 2022
© Diego Costantini, 2018←→Unpae is a nonprofit organisation that operates in the field of contemporary visual culture. Born primarily as a Residency program, now is a platform for artists, curators, designers and researchers of all kinds who come together to explore and develop new forms of fluid practices, inside of a frame where freedom to be and to make is encouraged, and where emotional bonds between people are built. During the years of activity a special sensibility for Performative acts, multimedia production and editorial practices has spontaneously sprung.
The town of Roccacaramanico, located in the central-eastern Italian region of Abruzzo, on the Apennine Mountains, has been home to a Residency program for young artists. Residents have the chance to engage with the town’s unique landscape, and are welcomed by its people and animals to respectfully inhabit the place for a short time.
Even though the bonds with the mountain town are strong and the Residency program is the foundation of Unpae, most projects are carried on inside of a network of local, Italian, and European cultural operators beyond geographical boundaries. Unpae is in and of itself a project in the making, constantly questioning and redefining what it means to do research in contemporary art and visual culture.
Being a young and independent platform, Unpae is able to sustain itself and fund projects thanks to external contributions, such as grants and sponsorships. As a team, we are enthusiast to discuss new projects and help their production from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Team
- Andrea Croce (1996, Chieti)
- Founder and Creative Director
- E-mail: andrea.c.stile@gmail.com
- Michele Sablone (1997, Pescara)
- Art Director, Graphic Design and Website
- E-Mail: michelesablone5@gmail.com
- Alessia Delli Rocioli (1998, Pescara)
- Co-Director and Editing
- E-Mail: alessiadellik@gmail.com
Cultural Partners
Media Partners
- Coming soon
Supporters
- Regione Abruzzo
- Parco Nazionale della Majella
- CSV Abruzzo
- Cantiere giovani
- Spazio pieno
- Associazione Roccacaramanico
- Contacts
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For inquiries and further information, to book a visit to our spaces, or just to get in contact, reach out by E-Mail or DMs:
- E-mail: hello@unpae.com
- Ig: @unpae
Press Kit
Coming soon
- Residency Program
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Zoé Couppé, Commuovere. Residency program 2022, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Alessandro Chiappanuvoli
Lorenzo Kamerlengo, PicNic in Australia. Residency program 2019, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Alfredo
Chiara Druda. Residency program 2019. Photo: © Teresa Licciardi, 2019
Luca Frati + Ursulina De Lombardia. Residency program 2022. Photo: © Marie Lucas
Alice Pilusi, Segreto Top 2018. Residency program 2018, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Diego Costantini
Sara Ravelli, Jacopo Belloni, Gabriele Zagaglia, Stefania Carlotti. Le stelle cadenti diventano cardi e le stelle si svegliano tardi. Residency program 2021, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Stefania Carlotti
Maria Chiara Ziosi. Residency program 2022. Photo: © Marie Lucas
Maria Chiara Ziosi. Residency program 2022. Photo: © Andrea Ferrara, 2022
Jacopo Belloni. Residency program 2021.
© Lorena Florio, 2018
Giorgia Garzilli This Summer I'm Reading Symenon. Residency program 2018, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Diego Costantini, 2018
Alberto Rota, Del tempo, dello spirito (Luoghi). Residency program 2019, Roccacaramanico. Photo: © Teresa Licciardi, 2019
Francesco Alberico, Campanile provvisorio. Residency program 2018, Photo: © Diego Costantini, 2018
Alessandro Gabini Relax al cimitero. Residency program 2019. Photo: © Teresa Licciardi, 2019
Francesco Alberico, Diventare uccelli. Photo: © Diego Costantini, 2018
Collectif Sous-titre (Marie Lucas + Elia Fidanza). Residency program 2022. Photo: © Alessandro Chiappanuvoli←→The Residency program is open to artists, curators, designers and researchers working in the field of contemporary visual culture. A multidimensional approach to research and practice is encouraged by the ever changing circumstances.
Every edition is initiated by a thematical input which naturally transforms and evolves during the residents’ stay, according their own specific sensibility and needs. Usually it’s favorable to hold discussions, share ideas and suggestions in round tables and other forms of group exchanges, and coming with an open mind.
During the stay various activities are organised or spontaneously come to be, such as walks, workshops, happenings and events. Production is not mandatory, nor is the participation to any activities, yet it’s nice for the spirit of the residency. During the period of stay, the residents are granted a close curatorial support and visitors are welcomed to check out and even actively take part in some of the activities of the residency.
The program usually runs through the warm months, as in the case of Roccacaramanico for example, the snow could cover the whole town and render difficult working. The stay in usual circumstances is 5 to 10 consecutive days or else shorter visits spread in time.
Due to the ever changing and ever evolving nature of the organisation, and given the ever transforming circumstances surrounding the town of Roccacaramanico, the residency editions are very different from each other, and could even take place in a different place than the mountain town of Roccacaramanico, or have completely different characteristics. Here find general information that somewhat apply to any iteration of the program. It’s best to consult Open Calls and Notices for specific information.
History
Un paese tutto per lei was the original name of the Residency program, coming from an article found on the book “Roccacaramanico Anni 80”, about the last inhabitant of the town, Angiolina, after the phenomenon of mass depopulation which left the town almost completely uninhabited. Angiolina achieved notoriety after being interviewed by Italian singer and pop culture icon Raffaella Carrà, while wearing an Armani dress.
Angiolina has since left us (and sadly so has Raffaella) and Roccacaramanico has seen a constant growing wave of repopulation ever since the 80’s. From a farmers’ village and later ghost town, now it’s transforming into a tourist village and this poses interesting implications to further investigate.
In 2018, Andrea Croce founded the first edition of Unpae (a contracted version of the latter name) and gave accomodation to artists in his own family home: a place filled with family memories and objects collected over the years. Antiques and all sorts of mobile structures, mixed with “mountain kitsch” decorations give a unique character to the house, which still hosts the residents.
Roccacaramanico stands at the foot of the two mountains Monte Amaro and Morrone, surrounded by forest and wild animals, inside the Majella National Park in Abruzzo. It is known for being an extremely snowy place in the winter. Within it there are several iconic places, the “Roccione” (a great rock), an abandoned Cemetery, “Piazza Callarone” (the main square), the Ethnographic Museum and several drinking fountains and springs. It is easy to create one’s own geography by discovering new hidden places. The town is so small that it doesn’t have any shops, apart from one recently opened restaurant.
- Open Calls
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- Summer Residency 2023 Open Call for Performers Until July 3
Application
Usually, selections for residents’ participations are held through an Open Call found here on this section of this website, along with more specific information about the Residency program or project and other kinds of notices. Spontaneous applications outside of Open Calls are also possible, but due to limited resources, we are not yet in a place to sustain a project or a residency period with each and every one.
- Summer Residency 2023 Open Call for Performers
- Partecipants
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Residents
- Zoé Couppé
- Maria Chiara Ziosi
- Luca Frati
- Ursulina De Lombardia
- Collectif Sous Titre (Marie Lucas + Elia Fidanza)
- Jacopo Belloni
- Stefania Carlotti
- Sara Ravelli
- Gabriele Zagaglia
- Stefano Serusi
- Chiara Druda
- Lorenzo Kamerlengo
- Matteo Messori
- Alberto Rota
- Matei Vladimir Colțeanu
- Alessandro Gabini
- Martina Marini Misterioso
- Giorgia Garzilli
- Francesco Alberico
- Alice Pilusi
- Lorena Florio
- Andrea De Liberato
- Marco de Leonibus
- Carlotta Valdinoci
Photo & Video Credits
- Luca Cusella
- Alessandro Chiappanuvoli
- Ivo Pisanti
- Andrea Ferrara
- Marie Lucas
- Stefania Carlotti
- Teresa Licciardi
- Lorena Florio
- Diego Costantini
Music & Sets Credits
- Enrico Viani
- Zoé Couppe
- Maria Chiara Ziosi
- Daniele Di Girolamo
- Davide Grotta
- Filippo Rabottini
- Marco Farese
- Elena Cacciagrano
Workshop Credits
- Articles and Mentions
- Archive
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Coming soon
- Support Us
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Unpae is a small-scale, young and independent platform that works to promote ideas and research in the fields of contemporary visual culture. As such, it’s mainly sustained by public and private funding. We really care to give artists support to produce projects, such as films, publications and other. These self-produced items are for sale in our Shop, and by purchasing them Unpae is further supported and so is the whole production chain. Donations via PayPal are also possible and whoever might donate will have a special place in our hearts (and special benefits).
