Tale of Place
Convento dei Minimi · Roccella Ionica, Costa Viola, Calabria
13 June 2026 – 10 August 2026
Concluded event
From 13 June to 10 August 2026, Roccella Ionica will host "Tale of Place – Doha tells the story of Roccella Ionica", an exhibition project that brings together cultures, landscapes and artistic visions from different geographical and cultural contexts. The exhibition offers an original interpretation of the local area through the works of 44 artists from Qatar, who have been invited to explore the identity, memory and atmosphere of this town on the Riviera dei Gelsomini. Images, sounds and narratives intertwine in an exhibition that invites the public to view familiar places from fresh perspectives, highlighting the tangible and intangible heritage of Calabria.
Tale of Place: Roccella Ionica meets Qatar
From 13 June to 10 August 2026 Roccella Ionica hosts Tale of Place, an exhibition project that brings together cultures, landscapes and artistic visions from different geographical contexts. The show offers an original reading of the area through the works of 44 artists linked to Qatar, invited to explore the identity, memory and atmospheres of this town on the Riviera dei Gelsomini. Images, sounds and narratives intertwine in a multisensory journey that invites the public to view familiar places from fresh perspectives, highlighting the tangible and intangible heritage of Calabria.
The project and the artists
Tale of Place: Roccella Jonica is the first chapter of a series of international projects dedicated to the relationship between place, memory and creativity, conceived by the interdisciplinary research laboratory Sonic Jeel of the VCUarts Qatar Institute for Creative Research. The exhibition is curated by Stella Colaleo, Michael Hersrud, Eman Makki and Simone Muscolino and involves over forty artists, a multisensory publication and a performance. It is produced with the support of the VCUarts Qatar Institute for Creative Research and the Qatar Foundation, under the patronage of the Municipality of Roccella Jonica and the Italian Embassy in Doha. After Roccella, a second stage is planned in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026.
The venues and opening events
The opening is scheduled for Saturday 13 June 2026 at 6.00 pm at the Convento dei Minimi. On Sunday 14 June at 6.00 pm, at Castello Carafa, the catalogue launch takes place, accompanied by a musical performance held in collaboration with the Roccella Jazz Festival. Roccella Ionica, on the Riviera dei Gelsomini in the Locride, has a long connection with the great jazz tradition: the meeting of international contemporary art and live music makes the exhibition an occasion for exchange between the cultures of the Mediterranean.
A bridge between the Mediterranean and the Gulf
Tale of Place is a significant meeting point for contemporary art, Mediterranean culture and international exchange. Through images, sounds and new artistic languages, the exhibition tells the story of Roccella Ionica to visitors, enthusiasts and tourists, building an ideal bridge between the Calabrian coast and Doha. The project will indeed continue in Qatar with a second exhibition in November 2026. To discover other cultural events in the region you can browse other events in Calabria.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Tale of Place exhibition held?
From 13 June to 10 August 2026, in Roccella Ionica, on the Riviera dei Gelsomini.
Where does it take place?
In Roccella Ionica: the opening is at the Convento dei Minimi, while the catalogue launch is held at Castello Carafa.
When is the opening?
Saturday 13 June 2026 at 6.00 pm, at the Convento dei Minimi.
Who are the artists involved?
44 artists linked to Qatar and the VCUarts Qatar Institute for Creative Research, who reinterpret the identity and atmospheres of Roccella Ionica.
Who curates the exhibition?
The project, by the Sonic Jeel research laboratory, is curated by Stella Colaleo, Michael Hersrud, Eman Makki and Simone Muscolino.
Is there a link with the Roccella Jazz Festival?
Yes: on 14 June 2026 at Castello Carafa the catalogue launch is accompanied by a musical performance in collaboration with the Roccella Jazz Festival.
Will the project continue elsewhere?
Yes, after Roccella Ionica a second stage is planned in Doha, Qatar, in November 2026.
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- Roccella Summer Festival | Claudio Baglioni — Event · 21 August 2027 · Roccella Ionica