Florence, 22^nd October 2021.   450 exhibitors, including artists and designers, from around the world will crowd the Fortezza da Basso until Sunday, 31^st October 2021, showcasing their most representative works and productions at the 13^th FLORENCE BIENNALE.

The main theme of this edition is “Eternal Feminine – Eternal Change. Concepts of Femininity in Contemporary Art and Design”, exploring the multi-faceted universe of femininity, and moving in two precise directions. One is the idea of femininity as a reflection of divinity, spiritual love, source of purification and elevation; the other is celebrating the fluid and perpetual change characterising contemporaneity and also involving femininity, undergoing constant transformation thanks to the encouragement of social and cultural movements – from the sexual revolution of the 1960s to battles for equal opportunities, up to the current debate on gender identity.

The prize-winners of this edition will be Michelangelo Pistoletto, representing the so-called Arte Povera, photographer Oliviero Toscani, and famous fashion designer and activist Vivienne Westwood.

On show at the Cavaniglia Pavilion, a special concept curated by Fortunato D’Amico featuring installations by over 60 artists performers, photographers, painters, sculptors, architects, designers, musicians, poets, and video makers), selected in terms of interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism.

Florence, 13^th October 2021. Earth Technology Expo started at the Fortezza da Basso this afternoon. Open until Saturday, 16^th October, it is the most exhaustive exhibition showcasing Italy’s extraordinary ability to create, innovate and find solutions for the great climate challenge, to start an ecological and digital transition and to find protection from environmental disasters. The fair sees the presence of 100 exhibitors, and offers 50 workshops, meetings, presentations, and many solutions, featuring scientists, civil protection experts, research centres, universities, companies, ministers and local and national administrators.

On show, the achievements of a country – Italy – proudly able to produce – the Civil Protection’s earthquake simulator, the new high-tech helmets of the firefighters, new technologies used by rescue workers, “Made in Italy” water used by astronauts, which will go to Mars, the first zero-emission electric ship produced in Italy, and the ‘smart’ pylons anticipating landslides and fires.

“By organising this Expo, Italy proves to be ready for an ecological transition, thanks to its technological excellences and to all the ways you can use them – from daily life to preserving the life of citizens as in the case of Civil Protection – said Fabrizio Curcio, Head of the Civil Protection Department, during the opening ceremony of Earth Technology Expo. –  Events as these are the best opportunities to regain the ability to give the correct value to certain things. Furthermore, we must acknowledge just how much our country can be a source of excellence in many areas, thanks to technology supporting them. For instance, the Civil Protection sees climate changes as a problem requiring a great deal of preparation, but also the ability to give an operational response.

“In terms of prevention, soil protection, or hydrogeological stability, technology plays a key role – explained Eugenio Giani, President of the Region Tuscany –. In the aspects of prevention, technology can revolutionise everything, such as robotic surgery. That is why it is important to invest in innovation and technology – to provide citizens with the same services but with much more efficiency”.

“These days, organising a fair represents an act of courage – explained Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera –; that is why, I would like to thank the organisers, who decided to choose the Fortezza da Basso in Florence to host an event dealing with highly topical themes such as the environmental and digital transition, and discussing them at a high level with the main industry experts.”

Florence, 21^th October 2021. FIRENZE HOME TEXSTYLE, the only Italian international fair devoted to home, marine, spa, contract & hotel textiles, is back at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence. It is an unmissable event for the most qualified companies and for the most prestigious and dynamic brands of this sector.

Promoted and organised by Firenze Fiera, this exhibition has now reached its fourth edition, and is set to take place at the Fortezza da Basso from 4^th to 7^th February 2022. 

The new edition features a ‘rebranding’ operation featuring a strong visual impact, inspired by the patchwork technique, obtained by collecting scraps of classical fabrics in vibrant and bright shades within the same visual, and by inserting the ‘Florence lily’ as a paradigm of the city of Florence.

Inside the over 11,000 square metres of Spadolini Pavilion’s lower floor, visitors will be able to admire the new collections of household linen, the latest proposals for upholstery, curtains, home, spa, marine, contract & hotel textiles, textile publishing and fragrances. On show, a wide and articulated range of home and indoor and outdoor products, with a special focus on ethic and sustainable processes and materials.

FIRENZE HOME TEXSTYLE is aimed at all the key players of the living and home décor world, in a period marked by a new way of living our own habitat, where people’s well-being is placed at the centre of attention as the real heart and soul of each project.

Thanks to the support of ICE – the Italian Trade Agency for the promotion of Made in Italy abroad and the internationalisation of Italian businesses, and Promofirenze – Special Agency of the Chamber of Commerce in Florence – for four days, the Fortezza da Basso will become a meeting point for selected companies and buyers, retailers, interior designers, concept stores, furniture stores, the main distribution channels, in addition to journalists, and industry influencers and bloggers.

The exhibition section will be completed by a full programme of side events, including seminars and workshops, featuring figures of international prestige coming from the living and interior décor world.

Continuing the path already traced by the Stanza delle meraviglie (Room of Wonders) – the event successfully held during the 2021 edition and dedicated to the excellence of Tuscan textiles – woven masterpieces will be on show at the exhibition, on loan from prestigious Italian museums and cultural institutions, such as the Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio (a foundation to preserve the silk art fabric weaving tradition), the Textile Museum in Prato, the Straw Hat and Straw Weaving Museum in Signa, and others. 

“Innovation, sustainability and the culture of textiles will be the key points of the next edition of Firenze Home Texstyle which, in 2022, will open the season of the exhibitions directly organized by Firenze Fiera – said Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera – staging the excellence of textile products by presenting the new collections and organising side events mixing the heritage of Italian masters of art and the future-oriented impetus of design and home décor”. 

Admission is exclusively reserved for industry professionals upon registration.

Opening times: Every day from 9:00 to 18:00 – On the last day: from 9:00 to 16:00

Florence, 7^th October 2021. A press conference was held this morning inside the Auditorium Di Cicco at the Civil Protection Department in Rome to present ETE – the Earth Technology Expo (http://www.etexpo.it), the most complete exhibition showcasing Italy’s extraordinary ability to create, innovate and find solutions for the great climate challenge, to start an ecological and digital transition and to find protection from environmental disasters. The exhibition will take place from 13^th to 16^th October 2021 at the Fortezza da Basso (free admission). This event will bring 100 exhibitors and 50 workshops inside the Fortezza, but it will also feature a rich programme of meetings, presentations, and solutions, with the help of scientists, civil protection experts, research centres, universities, companies, ministers, and local and national administrators.

The presentation also saw the participation of Lorenzo Becattini, Firenze Fiera’s President, as a speaker.

The presentation boasted the achievements of a country able to produce, of which we should be proud. Which actions should we introduce to save the Earth, reduce the most dangerous emissions in the atmosphere, regenerate cities, protect water and the environment, increase protection against the great environmental risks, prevent and manage emergencies, produce quality food without waste, and guarantee research and any work related to it? Many answers will emerge from the over 5,000 square metres of the Fortezza da Basso, which will host the first exhibition of a whole range of high-tech products and solutions with systems and models already designed and applied, which make Italy a world leader in this sector. It will also be possible to attend surprising presentations based on research and inventions, discover smart solutions going from the production and management of clean energy to the management of local public services, to end with the quality of cities and smart cities. Special attention will also be given to the potential of the 5G and 6G ultra-widebands.

ETE is organised with Firenze Fiera, and ideated in co-operation with the Italian Civil Protection Department and the Casa Italia Department of the Council Presidency, Ispra, the Italian Space Agency, Enea, Ingv, the Italian Agency for Territorial Cohesion, the Oceanographic Institute, Utilitalia, Consorzi di bonifica Anbi, Coldiretti, the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, Department of Earth Sciences, the University of Florence, the University Luiss “Guido Carli”, Fondazione Symbola, and Legambiente.

The National Council of Italian Engineers and the National Council of Italian Geologists will be partners of the event, whereas Rai Isoradio will be the official radio.

“The Florence Expo – said Mauro Grassi, Director of Earth Technology Expo – will also feature top-level meetings, with all the main actors and stakeholders of the various sectors, offering a more advanced and dynamic image of our country”.

“The Civil Protection Department will participate in Expo Ete with great enthusiasm and willing to create a dialogue with all the Italian and international public and private

Florence, 3^rd August 2021. For the next edition of MIDA – the 86^th Florence International Crafts Fair (Fortezza da Basso, 23^rd April – 1^st May 2022), Firenze Fiera, together with Fondazione Architetti Firenze (Foundation of Florence Architects), in co-operation with the Florence Municipality, Giovanni Michelucci Foundation, the Architecture Department of the University of Florence, and with the support of the Scientific Committee of the Fair, is going to launch a national call to select 6 planning designers to create 6 objects to be produced by Tuscan artisan companies.

The aim is to make the International Crafts Fair a live opportunity to sign a pact of alliance and co-operation between artisans and designers by launching 6 flagship-projects made in MIDA, made specifically for the market to witness this process of redevelopment of the Fair, initiated by Firenze Fiera in these last years in partnership with the institutions and associations involved, and under the aegis of training, innovation, and high quality of handcrafted products.

The combination of the selected designers and the Tuscan manufacturers is set to generate a new project of co-operation and exchange of knowledge and know-how – an important element to try to envision and respond to the markets’ challenges of the post-pandemic era thanks to the new productions made in MIDA.

“The idea of the call was born two years ago – says Antonio Bugatti of the Fondazione Architetti Firenze, lead partner of the project and member of the Scientific Committee of the Fair – to offer our colleagues, designers and architects, an ‘assist’ to launch their own creativity, activating a healthy and stimulating competition on specific themes, and to design exclusive and unique objects with the brand MIDA, which will be exhibited during the next edition of the Fair”.

“Crafts, as well as fashion, have always been one of the  most representative ambassadors of the beauty of our country, said Lorenzo Becattini, President of Firenze Fiera, adding: “The call “Made in MIDA – L’artigianato che sarà” (Made in MIDA – Crafts of the Future) – which hopefully will see the participation of all the creatives fitting the requirements – represents an innovative pilot project for the artisan world and it will surely be one of the crown jewels of the 2022 edition. A special edition, marking a return to the live fair, under the aegis of creative genius and of the excellence of handicrafts”.

To find out more about the terms and conditions, and the rules to participate, please visit: https://mostrartigianato.it/made-in-mida-lartigianato-che-sara/

Florence, 27th July 2021. MAREDAMARE, the International Beachwear Show, held on July 24th-26th at Fortezza da basso, reached its 14th edition. The salon ended with an optimistic and confident spirit. There were presented more than 150 new collections for Summer 2022, half of them european.
“We are the first european beachwear show to go back in presence after the pandemic – says the President of the fair, Alessandro Legnaioli – and we encountered the clear exhibitor’s satisfaction in terms of productive meetings with customers and orders received, despite the inevitabile decrease of the figures. This year’s data highlights that a change is happening, a sort of evolution that offers no way out to those that stay behind. It needs to be said that beachwear and lingerie were the least affected sector by the pandemic and the market is optimistic and in good health. The showroom areas in the stands also worked well in allowing the brands to exhibit in detail their new collections to their customers, along with the speed- meeting formula (face-to-face meetings between buyers and exhibitors) and the open-air, entertaining fashion shows on Saturday and Sunday. Now, we are working on creating a system to export our format abroad”.

Florence, 17^th June 2021. After an 18-month stop for physical fairs, the exhibition season in Florence restarts live with Pitti Immagine Dopo Filati (from 28^th to 30^th June 2021 at Stazione Leopolda), while Pitti Uomo no.100 and Pitti Bimbo no.93 will take place simultaneously from 30^th June to 2^nd July 2021 at the Fortezza da Basso.  This will be a special edition, supported by a cautious optimism, opening with a great desire for exhibitors and buyers to meet again live at the fair, hoping to regain a long-awaited normalcy.

315 menswear brands are expected to participate, with 84 of them coming from abroad, while Bimbo is set to host 74 brands, 20 of which are international. Around 7,000/8,000 buyers are expected to attend these events. Most of them will be Italian, but some will also come from various European markets, or from the United States and Russia.

The special guest will be South-African designer Thebe Magugu. A partnership with Assopellettieri will also debut at the Fortezza, presenting an installation to introduce Mipel Lab, the new fair scheduled for next September in Milan, along with Lineapelle.