International contemporary art platformThe 70th International Contemporary Music Festival of the Biennale di Venezia, directed by Caterina Barbieri, has added two new events to its program. These events, part of the Musica Libera initiative, are scheduled for October 18 and 24 and will take place in the courtyard of the women’s correctional facility on the island of Venezia Giudecca. The performances are set in the historical context of the former church and monastery of the Convertite, which forms the central structure of the facility.
The Musica Libera events will present the outcomes of a workshop involving women from the correctional institution, young musicians from Biennale College Musica, and their mentors. This collaboration is designed to foster artistic creation within the unique environment of the correctional facility, bringing together diverse participants in a shared creative process.
The initiative is rooted in a programming philosophy that seeks to highlight the therapeutic power of music. Rather than viewing artistic creation as a passive object for consumption, Musica Libera aims to use music as a channel for catharsis and collective transformation. This approach is reflected in the structure and intent of the workshops and performances.
The sessions are aligned with the overall theme of the festival, which is dedicated to childhood and intuition. The workshops were conducted according to a principle of total openness, aiming to create spaces for authentic creative freedom. Participants were encouraged to explore their creativity without the pressure of achieving predetermined results or outcomes imposed from above.
A central aspect of Musica Libera is its choral nature, emphasizing listening, vulnerability, expressive urgency, and co-creation. The initiative does not rely on a fixed compositional method but instead values the collective and spontaneous aspects of musical creation.
Musica Libera is part of a broader effort by the Biennale di Venezia to strengthen relationships with penitentiary institutions. It joins other initiatives such as Rinasco con l’Arte, which also aim to foster connections between the arts and correctional environments. The organization of these events involves the women’s correctional facility Venezia Giudecca, the Department of Penitentiary Administration, and the regional penitentiary administration for Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige.
Attendance at the Musica Libera events requires prior online registration through the Biennale di Venezia’s official website. Details about the registration process will be communicated at a later date. The collaboration and support of the correctional facility and penitentiary authorities have been acknowledged by the organizers.
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