From Rome to New York:
Introducing American Friends of CASTRO Projects
Gaia Di Lorenzo
Founder of CASTRO Projects and Board Vice Chair
in conversation with
Vittorio Calabrese
Cultural strategist and arts management consultant based in New York
Di Lorenzo and Calabrese will present CASTRO Projects’ mission and pioneering approach
in radical education for emerging artists and its impact on the contemporary art scene
including new opportunities with the American Friends of CASTRO Projects initiative
CASTRO (Contemporary Art STudios ROme) is an experimental learning program based in Rome, dedicated to supporting Italian and international artists, curators, and researchers. By offering studio spaces and tailored educational activities, CASTRO fosters collaboration, experimentation, and peer-to-peer learning. In Italy, where public funding is largely directed towards the preservation of ancient art, opportunities for young contemporary artists are limited. As one of the few initiatives dedicated to supporting emerging artistic practices, CASTRO has become a crucial resource for artists seeking professional growth and creative development. Traditional art academies often rely on outdated teaching models that fail to equip artists with the skills and critical engagement required to navigate today’s contemporary art landscape. CASTRO is pioneering a new way of cultivating talent, creating a dynamic environment where artists can expand their practice through dialogue, mentorship, and collaboration. As a result, entry into the program has become highly valued within the contemporary art community.
CASTRO’s programming is structured into three main tracks: • Studio Program: Provides selected artists and researchers with workspaces and personalized educational activities, including tutorials, workshops, and studio visits. • Public Program: Offers free activities open to the public, such as artist talks, screenings, seminars, and CRITS—public presentations where artists present their work for collective discussion and feedback. • Academia Program: Delivers bookable group and individual training courses, including portfolio reviews, mentoring sessions, and seminars, available both in-person and remotely.
Located in Trastevere, the heart of Rome, CASTRO is committed to keeping artists and the creative community central to the city’s cultural landscape. Through its multifaceted programs, CASTRO cultivates an environment where individual and collective artistic pursuits can thrive, contributing significantly to the contemporary art scene. Through its public programs, CASTRO is also actively building new audiences for the arts, encouraging broader engagement with contemporary artistic practices. This year marked the launch of American Friends of CASTRO, a network established to extend CASTRO’s mission internationally. Through fundraising efforts, cultural events, and partnerships with institutions in the United States, American Friends of CASTRO aims to provide additional support for artists participating in the program and foster transatlantic dialogue in the arts.
Vittorio Calabrese is a cultural strategist and arts management consultant based in New York. He currently serves as a Senior Associate at AEA Consulting, advising museums, foundations, and cultural organizations on institutional strategy, program development, and philanthropic initiatives globally.
From 2015 to 2024, he was the Founding Director of Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, NY. His prior experience spans galleries, auction houses, and private institutions in both the U.S. and Italy. Originally from Irpinia, Italy, Vittorio holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MA in Modern & Contemporary Art from Christie’s Education, and degrees in Management of Government and International Institutions from Bocconi University.
Gaia Di Lorenzo is an artist and educator based in Rome. Her research revolves around collective behaviours and their role in self-identification processes. Gaia holds a BA in Literature and Philosophy from the University of Tor Vergata and a BFA from Goldsmiths University of London. Among her exhibitions: upcoming in 2025 Bipersonale at 15 Bermondsey Square, London; in 2024 Offendicula, Kora, Castrignano dei Greci; in 2022 ITALICS, Monopoli curated by Vincenzo De Bellis; in 2021 MATERIA NOVA curated by Massimo Mininni at the Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. She has been a visiting tutor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome and Milan. She is the representative of the Minister for Culture on the Board of Directors of the Michetti Foundation. In 2018 Gaia founded CASTRO, an experimental learning program based in Rome. Gaia is a founding member of ART WORKERS ITALIA, an association created with the aim of giving voice to contemporary art workers in Italy. Both activities, that for CASTRO and that for AWI, parallel to his artistic practice reflect her interest in collective dynamics and the role of the artist in contemporary Cold Spring, NY. His prior experience spans galleries, auction houses, and private institutions in society.
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