Chapter 15 Operaestate Festival Veneto, A socio cultural and economic analysis

Abstract

Bassano Operaestate Festival Veneto has presented more than four hundred shows in castles, parks, palaces, villas, squares and museums in thirty municipalities of the region of Veneto in the North East of Italy. The festival hosts artists and productions from all over the world, ranging from contemporary theatre to the most innovative international dance, music, opera, classical, jazz and art films. The diversity, breadth and quality of its programmes are its greatest strengths. The primary objective of the festival is to enable large audiences to experience the performing arts in its many different forms, and to do so through a programme of cultural animation across the entire region. This case study of Bassano Operaestate aims to provide a picture of the effects produced by the festival with over three decades of activity, in an area that has experienced vibrant and dynamic growth in the industrial, creative, artistic and cultural sectors, especially in recent years. The research study was commissioned by the festival and carried out by Fondazione Fitzcarraldo (FF). FF is an independent centre, based in Turin, for planning, research, training and documentation on cultural, arts and media management, eco- nomics and policies, at the service of those who create, practice, take part in, produce, promote and support arts and cultural activities.