As a pilot city of the Art of Darkness project, Bologna will host two complementary events on 28 and 29 May 2026, combining artistic intervention in public space and professional exchange on lighting in cultural heritage contexts.
Taking place in the historic centre, these events reflect the project’s approach to exploring darkness as a cultural, aesthetic and sustainability dimension of the urban night. They bring together artists, lighting professionals and local stakeholders to experiment with new ways of experiencing and designing nighttime environments.
Art of Darkness in Piazza Scaravilli
On 28 May (21:00–23:00), the Art of Darkness pilot site in Piazza Scaravilli will host a public evening of videomapping, sound and light installations.
Two artworks — E se fosse una città by Martina Stella and Offorwith by Collettivo -ATI — will be projected in a loop on the façades of the square, interspersed with moments of shared darkness. The installations, developed through a co-creation process, explore the expressive potential of darkness and its interaction with light, contributing to the reactivation of the square’s nighttime use. The event is free and open to all.
SEMINAR: Public light art in cultural heritage contexts
On 29 May (09:00–11:00), a seminar will take place at the Mediateca “Giuseppe Guglielmi”, focusing on the relationship between public lighting, light art and historical urban environments.
Bringing together lighting designers, researchers and heritage professionals, the session will examine current practices and challenges in integrating contemporary lighting interventions within sensitive cultural contexts. The discussion will address sustainability, preservation and public engagement, in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
Photo: © UNIBO