Let’s start at the beginning. What is Icché Ci Vah Ci Vole, and how did it come to the management of Lumen?
Icché Ci Vah Ci Vole is an old Florentine saying that essentially means, “whatever it takes, it takes”—or, put another way, “what’s needed must be done.” The story begins in 2011 with two associations, Riot Van and No Dump. We decided to organize an open festival in Parco della Carraia, at the Piero Filippi Gardens. The idea was to restore a neglected public garden, fix up the small building there and create a space where anyone could come, perform, play music or simply take part. We were overwhelmed by the response. Around 2-3,000 people came in a single day. From there, the project kept growing. The festival evolved into Copula Mundi. Then COVID arrived, and everything changed. We started asking ourselves a fundamental question: why were we spending all year creating something that only existed for four or five days? The truth is that what fascinated us most was building the festival. The preparation, collaborations, conversations with artists, booksellers and local groups. The weeks spent imagining what public space could become. So we asked ourselves: why not make this permanent? We approached the Municipality of Florence with a proposal. There was an abandoned public building on via del Guarlone, and we discovered a little-known municipal regulation that allows public properties to be entrusted to third-sector organizations for projects of public interest. We asked the city to give us the building for 30 years. We’ll restore it ourselves, little by little. We’ll create cultural and social activities and at the end the building remains public property, fully revitalized. The city agreed, and from there everything took off.
This year Lumen has an important role at the centre of Florence’s summer cultural programme, Estate Fiorentina.
One important thing is that we don’t have a traditional artistic director. We have collective artistic direction. I coordinate things, but there are dozens of organizations involved. This year there are 36 associations bringing projects into the space. We looked at some of the strongest cultural initiatives in the city and asked: why keep participating separately? Why not work together and build something bigger? That’s what Lumen is—a shared project.
How would you describe Florence’s cultural landscape today?
It’s a difficult question. Personally, I think the city is struggling because we’re asking the wrong questions. We spend a lot of time trying to stop certain changes, but we rarely ask what the alternatives are. Take Airbnb. The real question isn’t how to stop Airbnb. The real question is: what is the alternative? The only answer I’ve found is expression. People need opportunities to create, experiment and express themselves. When I think back to Florence in the 1990s, there were events and projects happening everywhere. The reason wasn’t that people were more talented. It was that it was easier to try things. The risks were manageable. Today everything feels much more precarious. What we try to do at Lumen is create an environment where people can learn, make mistakes, gain experience and build confidence.
What do you think has contributed most to Lumen’s success?
People recognize authenticity. If something is built genuinely for others and for the people creating it, people feel that. Another factor is that we treat culture as work. We treat artists and workers seriously. We don’t ask people to sacrifice everything for a dream. We try to create conditions where they can actually build a future.
One thing people often mention about Lumen is the atmosphere. It feels different from many cultural venues.
The space belongs to everyone. You can come here and not spend any money. Once you’ve joined, you can simply stay. That’s something we’re no longer used to. Most spaces today are organized around consumption. Here, families, students, artists, residents and tourists all share the same environment.
What are some highlights of this summer’s programme?
There are many. Our flagship festival, Copula Mundi, takes place from September 1–6. Then there’s Fiori sul Vulcano with the Lasciati Fiorire Festival from August 28–30. In total we have 226 events over 128 days. One event I particularly recommend is FirenzeGioca, running from July 31 to August 2, bringing everything from traditional wooden games to modern board games. It’s incredible to see electronic music, families, children and gamers all sharing the same space. We also have a free shuttle service on certain nights between Sant’Ambrogio and Lumen so people can travel without relying on private vehicles.
