Overview
Founded in 2024 by Milan-based contemporary art curators Tatiana Palenzona and Amina Berdin, MARES is an independent non-profit cultural association, curatorial platform, and residency initiative based in the Alessandria province of Piedmont, Northern Italy. Taking its name from the Marici—an ancient Celtic-Ligurian tribe that historically inhabited the area—MARES focuses on the cultural reactivation of the Monumental Complex of Santa Croce in Bosco Marengo (founded in 1566 by Pope Pius V). The organization conducts a three-year residency program (2025–2027) that invites emerging international and Italian creators to develop site-responsive research in the region.
Objectives
MARES aims to support emerging artists and curatorial voices while decentralizing contemporary art production away from oversaturated urban hubs. By creating a dynamic bridge between artistic practice, territory, local history, and surrounding communities, the platform strives to position the Santa Croce Complex as a vibrant contemporary cultural hub. Grounded in cross-cultural exchange, collaborative research, and critical inquiry, MARES seeks to renew local heritage through contemporary artistic expression and rigorous editorial documentation.
Programs / Opportunities
- Santa Croce Residency Program: A fully funded 10-week thematic residency (e.g., Ruins in 2025, Tales in 2026) for cohorts of four selected artists (two Italian and two international) offering free studio workspace inside the Santa Croce Complex, accommodation at the historic La Fiscala estate, a monthly living stipend, production funding, travel expenses, and a dedicated residency vehicle for local transit.
- Public Exhibitions & Catalogs: A culminating group exhibition hosted across the halls of the Monumental Complex of Santa Croce, accompanied by a published research catalog co-produced with Allemandi Publishing.
- Public & Community Programming: On-site workshops, public lectures, artist talks, and community engagement initiatives engaging local networks across the province of Alessandria.
- Editorial & Research Projects: Research initiatives and published volumes documenting thematic residency cycles and curatorial investigations into local territory, memory, and material culture.
Target Community
- Emerging Artists & Researchers: Italian and international emerging creators working across visual arts, performing arts, video/digital art, art criticism, and curatorial practices.
