Art for Legality and Social Commitment: Open Call by Libera Palmi

Presidio Libera «Rossella Casini» - Palmi · Palmi, Costa Viola, Calabria

5 August 2026

The Libera «Rossella Casini» chapter in Palmi is promoting a collective painting and photography exhibition titled «Art for legality and social commitment», and has opened a call for works. Applications can be sent until 5 August 2026 by writing to pres.palmi@territoriale.libera.it: taking part is free and open to everyone with no artistic requirements — professional artists, amateurs, students and ordinary citizens alike. The eligible themes are deliberately broad: the fight against the mafias and the memory of their innocent victims, bullying and cyberbullying, gender violence, human rights, social inclusion, the fight against every form of discrimination, peace, solidarity and protection of the environment. The date shown on this page is the application deadline: the day and venue of the exhibition itself have not been announced yet.

An open call for everyone, not just for artists

The Libera «Rossella Casini» chapter in Palmi is promoting a collective painting and photography exhibition titled «Art for legality and social commitment», and has published a call to gather the works to be displayed. The format is deliberately inclusive: taking part is free and open to all, with no artistic requirements, so professional artists, amateurs, students and ordinary citizens can all apply. It is the chapter's way of turning the themes of social anti-mafia work into something you look at and discuss, rather than another conference.

Eligible themes

The call lists a broad range of themes: the fight against the mafias; the memory of their innocent victims; bullying and cyberbullying; gender violence; human rights; social inclusion; opposition to every form of discrimination; peace; solidarity; protection of the environment. The last item on the list — «any other theme» — leaves room for personal readings: a work does not have to fit neatly into a category to be submitted.

How and by when to apply

Applications must be sent by 5 August 2026. Entries are submitted online, to the address pres.palmi@territoriale.libera.it. The full call and detailed information are circulated on the chapter's Facebook and Instagram pages, as stated on the poster. There is no entry fee.

The Libera «Rossella Casini» chapter in Palmi

The Palmi chapter of Libera - Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie opened a new phase in July 2026: on 6 July, in a members' assembly held in the council chamber of Palmi town hall, Adelaide Gambardella and Giulia Latella were elected coordinators, taking over from lawyer Teresa Famà. Presenting their mandate they set out the goal of strengthening dialogue with the local area, involving more associations and institutions and promoting initiatives able to turn the values of legality into concrete participation; Libera's regional secretary, Giuseppe Borrello, expressed confidence in the two coordinators, who have been active in the chapter since it was founded. This collective exhibition is one of the first public initiatives of that new phase.

Who was Rossella Casini

The chapter is named after Rossella Casini, a student at the University of Florence who disappeared in Palmi on 22 February 1981, aged twenty-five. She was in a relationship with a local young man whose family was involved in the feud that was tearing Palmi apart in those years; she told Florentine prosecutors what she had witnessed and persuaded her boyfriend to cooperate with the justice system. She was abducted and killed; her body was never found and the trial ended without convictions. Over the years her story has become a shared symbol between Florence and Palmi, remembered every 22 February.

When the exhibition will take place

The poster only sets the deadline for applying: the day and venue of the collective exhibition have not been announced yet and will be communicated by the chapter once the works have been selected. The date shown on this page is therefore 5 August 2026, the last day to apply; we will update the page once the exhibition has a date. In the meantime, other local events are listed in the events section, while to plan a visit to Palmi you can start from the businesses in town, from where to eat in Palmi and from the holiday rentals.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline to apply?

Applications must be sent by 5 August 2026. It is the only date set out on the poster of the call.

Who can apply?

Anyone, with no artistic requirements: the poster explicitly mentions artists, amateurs, students and citizens. No exhibition record or association membership is needed.

How much does it cost to take part?

Nothing: participation is free and there is no entry fee.

Which themes can the works address?

The fight against the mafias, the memory of their innocent victims, bullying and cyberbullying, gender violence, human rights, social inclusion, opposition to every form of discrimination, peace, solidarity, protection of the environment and, as the call puts it, any other related theme.

How do I submit my application?

Online, by writing to pres.palmi@territoriale.libera.it. The full call and any updates are published on the Facebook and Instagram pages of the Libera «Rossella Casini» chapter in Palmi.

When and where will the exhibition be held?

It has not been announced yet: the call only sets the application deadline, while the date and venue of the exhibition will be communicated by the chapter once the works have been collected.

Who was Rossella Casini, after whom the chapter is named?

A student from Florence who disappeared in Palmi on 22 February 1981, aged twenty-five: she had testified to prosecutors about the Palmi feud and persuaded her boyfriend to cooperate with the justice system. She was abducted and killed, her body was never found and the trial ended without convictions. Florence and Palmi remember her every year.

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