A project that aims to make live performances more culturally accessible at the Pergine Festival, one of the longest-running theatre and performing arts festivals in the country.
Where we started
The Pergine Festival, dedicated to theatre and the performing arts, has been running since 1976. Today, it is renowned for its ability to attract national and international artists to the Valsugana valley, effectively transforming the town of Pergine into a unique, captivating setting.
The Pergine Festival believes that culture is a universal right, which is why No Limits was created in 2012. The aim of the initiative is to make the Festival programme accessible to everyone, thereby contributing to a broader awareness of the environmental and social barriers that hinder participation.
In 2020, the Pergine Festival approached Fedora for strategic and operational support to improve accessibility, entrusting our association with managing the No Limits project.
What we did
Since then, we have been collaborating with the organisers to ensure that all of the Festival’s projects are accessible to everyone. To achieve this, we oversee every stage of the planning and organisation process, including communication with the public:
- we work with the artistic direction department to select the shows to be included in the No Limits programme;
- we maintain relationships with relevant bodies in order to share decisions and best practices to follow;
- we get in direct contact with the theatre companies involved to clarify any doubts, answer any questions they may have and address any critical issues;
- we oversee and develop all activities related to the accessibility of selected shows;
- we engage with and coordinate partners and organisations that develop accessibility tools;
- we are directly responsible for the accessibility budget for the current edition, which we manage independently, and support the Festival by helping them to research and apply for calls and funding;
- we produce accessible communication materials related to the initiative, including videos in Italian Sign Language (LIS), tactile maps, easy-to-read summaries, large-print texts and Braille summaries;
- we are present during the Festival to provide support to staff members in their role of welcoming audiences with disabilities. During the welcome phase, we also provide a sensory kit;
- we facilitate communication about the initiative by promoting it through our channels.
Result: a heartfelt, open and participatory Festival
For several years now, we have been working together to make over 20 Festival projects accessible, including shows, performances and workshops. In particular, the following productions are worthy of mention: ‘Il tango delle capinere’ by Emma Dante and ‘Alberi Maestri’ by Campsirago Residenza, ‘Foresto’ by Babilonia Teatri, and ‘Sottobosco’ by Chiara Bersani.
The Pergine Festival has seen a significant increase in attendance, largely thanks to the introduction of improved accessibility measures. Its 50th edition in 2025 welcomed 11,500 attendees. This serves as strong validation of the shared vision of its creators and of those who have closely followed its development, including us: an open culture brings people together.
