Art4Sea at the “Rassegna del Mare Sebastiano Tusa” to discuss Marine Landscape Conservation
Last week, Art4Sea, present in Ustica for the third artistic residency of the project, took part in the second edition of the “Rassegna del Mare“, an event dedicated to the memory of Sebastiano Tusa, held on the Sicilian island from September 18th to 22nd.
Organized by the foundation named after him, the event “was conceived to bring to life his desire to revive the “Rassegna Internazionale delle Attività Subacquee” (International Underwater Activities Festival) and to relaunch, with an interdisciplinary approach, the initiatives that, since the 1960s, have animated this island at the heart of the Mediterranean”, as explained by the Foundation’s president, Valeria Li Vigni.
The event was supported by numerous institutions, including the Sicilian Regional Assembly, the regional departments for Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, Tourism, Sport and Entertainment, Territory and Environment, Infrastructure and Mobility, as well as the Municipality of Palermo, the Municipality of Partanna, the City of Palermo, and ARPA Sicilia. The event was also realized in collaboration with the University of Palermo, the University El Manar of Tunis, the Mont’e Prama Foundation, the Municipality of Ustica, and Archeologia Viva.
Spanning five days, the “Rassegna del Mare” offered guests a unique experience to discover Ustica Island’s extraordinary historical and natural wealth, with a diverse program ranging from the enhancement of cultural heritage to the protection of the marine landscape. The activities included sporting initiatives such as diving, coastal rowing, sailing, and mermaiding, alongside culturally significant moments like debates, documentary screenings, photographic exhibitions, and book presentations. The cultural events were enriched by the presence of renowned TV personalities like Mario Tozzi and Donatella Bianchi.
Art4Sea’s contribution was featured in the program on the second day of the festival, Thursday, September 19th, with a focus on “Knowledge and Conservation of the Marine Landscape“. During the day, engaging interviews were conducted by Piero Pruneti and coordinated by Giulia Pruneti of Archeologia Viva with prominent figures from the scientific and cultural fields. Interviewees included Franco Andaloro from the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station; Donatella Bianchi, journalist and science communicator; Franco Palla, professor from the Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies at the University of Palermo and a member of the Foundation’s Executive Committee; and Davide Bruno, director of the AMP Ustica.
Emilia Brandi, representing 3D Research and responsible for coordinating the project, presented Art4Sea as a virtuous example of marine landscape conservation. She highlighted how the project combines art, creativity, and science to raise public awareness about environmental challenges facing the oceans. In her speech, Brandi emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to protecting marine ecosystems, offering the audience insights and inspiration.
Art4Sea will return to Ustica at the beginning of September 2025 for the installation of the artworks created by the participating artists and for the Grand Event, a special occasion involving the local community in a series of cultural and artistic events. During this time, it will also be possible to visit a virtual exhibition showcasing all the digital and digitized works created as part of the project, not only in Ustica but also in Alonissos and Gozo, the other two islands featured in the initiative.
