ORIZZONTI (CURAE – Performing Arts Festival’s fourth edition)
From 30 November to 4 December 2026, the Teatro Puntozero Beccaria in Milan hosts ORIZZONTI, the fourth edition of CURAE – Performing Arts Festival, organized by Puntozero, the Italian Ministry of Justice and the National Association of Theatres and Juvenile Justice, with the support of Fondazione KPMG. The festival is dedicated to artistic work in Juvenile Detention Institutions (IPM) and brings to Milan performances, exhibitions, round tables and meetings, featuring productions by young people from Milan, Catanzaro, Bari, Catania, Acireale, Airola and Quartucciu.
The journey began in October with the prequel “Aprire gli orizzonti” (“Opening the Horizons”): the theatrical cantata L’acqua è vagnata by Giacomo Sferlazzo, the study day Ragazzi difficili oggi in honour of Piero Bertolini, and the training days for Directors and Commanders organized by the Ministry of Justice.
It continues on 6 November with Piani di scavo, a session of situated listening and dialogue in the square in front of the Beccaria (ticketed), and on 28 November with the presentation of Antigone. Oltre la rabbia as part of BookCity Milano 2026.
Alongside these run the “Percorsi 2026” (2026 Pathways): the LARP Orizzonti: chi sei tu? on 19 November, an online link-up between all Italian IPMs; the workshop Shakespeare e la legge, with students from the University of Milan, high school students and young people from the criminal justice system; and Agenti, with Penitentiary Police officers from the Beccaria, which gives rise to a festival performance.
On 30 November the festival opens with institutional greetings and the inauguration of the exhibition spaces: Frode’s mural on the perimeter wall of the Beccaria IPM, a multimedia installation from the A(r)t Work project and the photographic exhibition I sogni attraversano il mare by Giuseppe Pipita, all open to visitors throughout the festival. In the evening, Non ti pago by Eduardo De Filippo is staged, with the actors of the Catanzaro IPM.
1 December is the day of “Creare comunità” (“Creating Community”), with the presentation of practices and artistic productions from the IPMs, the meeting at BASE Milano on the podcast Figli nostri, vite e voci dalle carceri minorili, and the first study of AI Will Shakespeare, with the Compagnia Puntozero.
On 2 December, “Confrontarsi” (“Engaging in Dialogue”): round tables among cultural operators, artists and Juvenile Justice staff, a discussion with Italy’s leading foundations on a possible national project (to be confirmed) and, at 8:30 pm, Portami là fuori, an evening of theatre and music with the young people from the Acireale, Airola and Quartucciu IPMs.
On 3 December, “Attraversare” (“Crossing”): the show for schools Errare humanum est, a meeting at the Università Statale on the opportunities and risks of theatre in IPMs, Tragiche criature with the detained actors of the Fornelli IPM in Bari, the video 8 in 1 colpo from the Catania IPM, and the conversation with Gianni Canova on Il cinema racconta il carcere.
On 4 December, “Restituire” (“Giving Back”), the festival closes with Il faro e il gabbiano by Arnaldo Boniello, the outcome of the workshop with the Penitentiary Police, and with the meeting Orizzonti condivisi, from which the CARTA CURAE 2026 will emerge, a summary document on the principles, practices, strengths and critical issues of artistic work in IPMs.
For further information, please see the flyer.