The “Chiara Award: useful culture” travels between Varese, Lugano and the Canton of Grisons

Representatives of the Lombard and Ticino culture, foundations, politicians and administrators: they were all there at the presentation of the new edition of the storytelling festival.
Starting from mid-September, the Clare Award, now in its 36th edition: an event eagerly awaited by all lovers of literature and in general of culture and art. Under the aegis ofFriends of Piero Chiara Association, the festival takes on an increasingly cross-border connotation, embracing the Province of Varese and involving the Canton Ticino and Canton of Grisons, in a cultural dialogue that articulates literature, photography, art and music.

The festival does not limit itself to telling stories, but aims to be "useful culture", addressing current issues and offering the public moments of reflection and personal growth. The initiatives take place mainly in historic locations opened for the occasion, thus also giving the opportunity to explore suggestive spaces often not accessible to the public.

A cultural bridge between Varese and the Canton of Ticino

The relationship between the Clare Award and Canton Ticino is now consolidated. The Ticino events, an integral part of the program, are designed to create a dialogue between the two realities, encouraging a cultural exchange that is part of a long-standing collaboration. The presence of the Canton of Ticino, in fact, enriches the festival with a contribution that goes beyond geographical borders, broadening the horizons of cultural debate.

Among the highlights are the inaugural event dedicated to the multiple sclerosis, a theme of great social impact. The meeting, which will take place in Ticino, demonstrates how the festival addresses topics that closely touch everyday life, highlighting the importance of a culture capable of combining art with social reality.

A program full of commemorations and tributes

The 2024 edition of the festival pays homage to emblematic figures of European culture such as Franz Kafka, of which we are celebrating the hundredth anniversary of his death, and Guido Piovene, fifty years after his death. These commemorations are not simple memories, but represent opportunities to rediscover the impact of these great authors not only on literature, but above all on modern society: thinkers capable of grasping changes and always recounting them with torment and true emotional participation.

And, speaking of characters who are essential to contemporary culture, a particularly awaited moment will be the tribute to Fabrizio De André, a unique figure in the panorama of Italian singer-songwriters, who will be remembered in the words of his wife Dori Ghezzi, during an interview with Vittorio Colombo. An event that promises to be full of emotion and personal involvement, 25 years after the singer-songwriter's death.

The finalists of the Chiara Giovani e Inediti Award

But the Chiara is still a competition, so in this mass of events the two meetings dedicated to the finalists of the Chiara Giovani 2024 and to the winners of the Chiara Unpublished 2024. Young authors will have the opportunity to present their works in important spaces, such as the Sala Montanari in Varese and the Feltrinelli bookshop, where they will be interviewed by well-known cultural journalists.

In this context, the desire emerges once again – always intrinsic and born together with the festival itself – to promote literary talent, supporting young writers and offering them a platform of visibility not only in Italy, but also beyond the borders, thanks to the strong bond with the Canton Ticino and Grisons. We will meet the 31 finalists of the Chiara Giovani Award – Italians and Ticino – on Sunday 29 September in the Montanari room, in the heart of Varese. They will be interviewed by a trio of well-known Italian and Swiss personalities: Cristina Boracchi, Salvatore Consolo and Professor Davide Circello.

Photography and art between Engadina and Casciago

Another important aspect of the festival is represented by the attention to photographic art. Two projects of particular interest: Laura Ceretti, which he will dialogue with Paul Zanzi on his works dedicated to the fountains of the Engadine, and Simone Bossi, a young photographer whose exhibition – curated by the famous architect Riccardo Blumer – will be hosted in the deconsecrated church of San Giovanni in Casciago. Through these initiatives, the festival extends beyond the boundaries of literature, exploring the artistic potential of other forms of expression.

Music and Science between Culture and Entertainment

Il Clare Award does not forget music and science. In a series of dedicated events, the public will be able to immerse themselves in evocative musical atmospheres, such as the event dedicated to Piero Chiara that will be hosted in Villa Panza. Here, the musicians' improvisations Paul Paliaga e Luca Pedroni will accompany those present on a journey through sounds and images.

The meeting with one of the most important figures in contemporary astronomy, the famous aerospace scientist, is destined to have a great echo. Amalia Ercoli Finzi, which will guide participants to the discovery of themes related to aerospace technologies. “Comets, Moon and then…” is the story of how Europe has also demonstrated great capabilities in the realization of space missions.

The connection with the Grono Library

The press conference to present the festival was an extremely rich moment, due to the dozens of connections that Bambi Lazzati and Romano Oldrini (pictured above), founders of Chiara, have been able to weave over the decades. Many representatives of culture and politics wanted to participate in the event. One of the most emotional moments was the speech by the heads of the Grono library, in Canton of Grisons, in fact, a literary salon dedicated to Peter Clare. In this appointment, personalities such as Mauro Novelli, Tania Giudicetti Lovaldi, SerenaContini e Bambi Lazzi will discuss the author's literary legacy, under the moderation of Stephen Vassere, also telling how important the literature of the Bel Paese is in the cultural sentiment of the Italian-speaking cantons.

This Swiss event once again underlines the importance of the link between the festival and the cultural realities of Ticino and Grisons, demonstrating how culture can be a vehicle for union and collaboration between different regions and countries.

For further details on the program, you can visit the official website of the Clare Award.