From August 30 to September 1, the historic Palazzo Venieri and other remarkable venues in Recanati — the “natìo borgo selvaggio” of Giacomo Leopardi — will host the fourth edition of the Recanati Comics Festival, a free-entry event dedicated to author comics and illustration.

Organized by the Cultural Association Arcadia, the festival promises three days filled with exhibitions, talks, workshops, live performances, and meetings with some of Italy’s most celebrated artists.

 

📅 Festival Programme

 

Friday, August 30, 2024

  • 6:00 p.m. – Civic Art Gallery of Villa Colloredo Mels: Opening of the exhibition “The Cartoonist of the Impossible – The Thousand Faces of Alfredo Castelli.”

  • 7:00 p.m. – “L. Lotto” Auditorium, Villa Colloredo Mels: Presentation of the official catalog “The Thousand Faces of Alfredo Castelli” with Stefano Fantelli, Lucio Filippucci, and Anna Castelli.

Saturday, August 31, 2024

  • From 4:00 p.m. – Festival opening at Palazzo Venieri with stands and activities.

  • 4:30–7:30 p.m. – “The Specialists’ Corner,” consultation space for young emerging artists.

  • 5:00 p.m. – Talk “The Two Faces of the Festival” with Giuliano Piccininno and Sergio Ponchione.

  • 6:15 p.m. – Sketch session at Piccola Libreria delle Marche with Sergio Ponchione.

  • 6:15 p.m. – “Gossip Comics”, presentation of the graphic novel “Abbà Padre” by Roberto Battestini.

  • 6:30 p.m. – Talk “The Lombroso’s Recanati” with Davide Barzi and Andrea Marinelli.

  • 7:45 p.m. – “Gossip Comics”, with works by Stefano Zattera.

  • 8:00 p.m. – Meeting with Massimo Gianvito at Libreria Caffè Passepartout, presenting “Lullaby e la morte del dio serpente.”

  • 9:15 p.m. – “Gossip Comics: Seven and a Half Minutes to Fall in Love with a Comic”, with Stefano “El Brujo” Fantelli and Marcello Mangiantini presenting ZAGOR Special n°38.

  • 9:30 p.m. – Talk “Julian” with Carlo Lucarelli, Stefano Fantelli, and Marcello Mangiantini.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

  • 10:00 a.m. – Festival opens with stands and activities.

  • 10:30 a.m. – Comic workshop for children (ages 8–10).

  • 11:30 a.m. – Awards ceremony of the contest “Free Workers 2024 – Creative Workers.”

  • 4:00 p.m. – Comic workshop for children (ages 11–13).

  • 4:30–7:30 p.m. – “The Specialists’ Corner,” advice for young artists.

  • 4:30 p.m. – “Gossip Comics”, presentation of “Bradi Pit, Vol. 3” by Giuseppe Scapigliati.

  • 4:45 p.m. – Talk “Opera ComicS” with Paola Ciarlantini on the relationship between opera and comics.

  • 5:45 p.m. – “Gossip Comics”, presentation of Paolo Di Orazio’s new book “Nuovi Delitti.”

  • 6:00 p.m. – “Mr. Loop Type” talk with Alberto Lavoradori, Mauro Cicarè, and artists from the Academy of Fine Arts of Macerata.

  • 7:15 p.m. – “War Flowers”, live piano and painting performance by Rita Tekeyan and Liana Ghuk Asyan.

  • 10:00 p.m. – Live concert by NADIS.

The festival will continue with the “Contromostra” from September 15, hosted at the Torre del Borgo, showcasing a selection of works by talented illustrators — exploring themes of magic, sensuality, and imagination.