Scuola di Agriculture Seed Research - Casa delle Agriculture
Casa delle Agricultura partnered with Scuola di Agriculture to host a 10-day research residency for artist-practitioners in June 2021. The Scuola di Agriculture is a pedagogical platform that combines agro-ecological learning with artistic strategies, building upon the participatory and commoning dynamics of the community of farmers and activists who formed Casa delle Agriculture. Started in 2014 and coordinated by the artist Luigi Coppola, the Scuola invited artists to research and work with the local community on specific topics, connecting to the collective work of recovering and revitalizing abandoned land, generating solidarity-based economies and strengthening community.
This residency focused its efforts on research into the heritage and current uses of local eco-cultural products. The initial phase of the residency included orientation activities with the team, including an introduction to the space and the context. This was followed by a range of introductions and meetings with local actors and archives who supported the residents’ research. The program was a social laboratory which involved the selection and conservation of seeds and mother plants of minor fruits and local varieties of various flora, and residents were required to interface not only with locals, but also with stakeholders from Vivaio dell’Inclusione, a local nursery garden.
The focus of the residency was seed systems and the progressive lack of biodiversity the region is facing. Residents were encouraged to research heirloom seeds, ancient agricultural practices, ways to disseminate seed-related knowledge and inclusive eco-agricultural strategies. The residents worked closely with Vivaio dell’Inclusione in their attempts to rescue, reproduce and sell ancient vegetable varieties. The artist-practitioners gained significant insight into the key questions and challenges facing the community, meeting a broad cross-section of the local community as they developed their understanding of vernacular knowledge.
By the end of the program, the artist-practitioners had a more developed awareness of the traditions surrounding vernacular craftsmanship and the ecological concerns of the region. Through podcasts, interviews, and the projects they proposed, the residents continue to spread awareness of the eco-agricultural threat to biodiversity. Casa delle Agriculture, Vivaio dell’Inclusione and Scuola di Agriculture carry on with their efforts to preserve ancient flora, and they hope that their efforts will help preserve the unique ecologies of rural communities.
Funded by the European Union
Casa delle Agricultura partnered with Scuola di Agriculture to host a 10-day research residency for artist-practitioners in June 2021. The Scuola di Agriculture is a pedagogical platform that combines agro-ecological learning with artistic strategies, building upon the participatory and commoning dynamics of the community of farmers and activists who formed Casa delle Agriculture. Started in 2014 and coordinated by the artist Luigi Coppola, the Scuola invited artists to research and work with the local community on specific topics, connecting to the collective work of recovering and revitalizing abandoned land, generating solidarity-based economies and strengthening community.
This residency focused its efforts on research into the heritage and current uses of local eco-cultural products. The initial phase of the residency included orientation activities with the team, including an introduction to the space and the context. This was followed by a range of introductions and meetings with local actors and archives who supported the residents’ research. The program was a social laboratory which involved the selection and conservation of seeds and mother plants of minor fruits and local varieties of various flora, and residents were required to interface not only with locals, but also with stakeholders from Vivaio dell’Inclusione, a local nursery garden.
The focus of the residency was seed systems and the progressive lack of biodiversity the region is facing. Residents were encouraged to research heirloom seeds, ancient agricultural practices, ways to disseminate seed-related knowledge and inclusive eco-agricultural strategies. The residents worked closely with Vivaio dell’Inclusione in their attempts to rescue, reproduce and sell ancient vegetable varieties. The artist-practitioners gained significant insight into the key questions and challenges facing the community, meeting a broad cross-section of the local community as they developed their understanding of vernacular knowledge.
By the end of the program, the artist-practitioners had a more developed awareness of the traditions surrounding vernacular craftsmanship and the ecological concerns of the region. Through podcasts, interviews, and the projects they proposed, the residents continue to spread awareness of the eco-agricultural threat to biodiversity. Casa delle Agriculture, Vivaio dell’Inclusione and Scuola di Agriculture carry on with their efforts to preserve ancient flora, and they hope that their efforts will help preserve the unique ecologies of rural communities.
Funded by the European Union
