On November 12, 2025, students from LABA Firenze and Istituto Marangoni took part in a new Belong & Explore event, this time dedicated to discovering the ceramic tradition of Montelupo Fiorentino. The initiative offered participants a hands-on, immersive experience, combining art, culture, and local craftsmanship in a creative and collaborative setting.

The experience took place at the Montelupo Fiorentino School of Ceramics, an institution that promotes the centuries-old tradition of Tuscan ceramics and reinvents it with a contemporary approach. The school’s philosophy places great emphasis on nature and the local area, encouraging students to understand the materials, origins, and natural cycles that inspire each creation.

During the workshop, students were divided into mixed pairs, Italian and international, with the aim of designing together a decoration inspired by traditional Montelupo motifs reinterpreted in a Pop Art style, characterized by bright colors, bold contrasts, and uniform surfaces. Each duo collaborated in choosing the design and creating the decoration on two tiles, combining tradition and personal creativity.

At the end of the activity, all the creations were presented by the groups and then exhibited, giving students the opportunity to share their work with their classmates and teachers, promoting the encounter between different cultures and skills. The experience ended with a convivial moment, during which participants were able to exchange impressions and strengthen the relationships formed during the day.

Initiatives such as Belong & Explore allow students to put the skills they have acquired in their respective courses into practice, learn about the region’s outstanding craftsmanship, and experience intercultural collaboration in a stimulating and creative environment. Montelupo Fiorentino, with its thousand-year-old ceramic tradition, has thus become a laboratory for learning, exchange, and discovery for students.