The Accademia Teatro Dimitri hosts the second day of the international conference “In the Middle of the Edge”

On 20 and 21 November 2025, the Canton of Ticino will host the international conference “In the Middle of the Edge. Questioning the centre-periphery dichotomy in the arts and culture”, two days of discussions and reflections exploring the relationships between centre and periphery in the contemporary arts and cultural fields.

Organised by the Research Committee of Sociology of Arts and Culture (RC-SAC/Foko-KUKUSO) of the Swiss Sociological Association (SSA), together with the Accademia Dimitri and the Department of Education and Learning (DFA) of SUPSI, the conference will take place on 20 November in Locarno and on 21 November in Avegno, at the Accademia Teatro Dimitri.

The second day in Avegno will feature Panel 3 – “Being an artist in the centre-periphery”, chaired by Demis Quadri, Head of Research and Services at the Accademia Dimitri. During the same session, Veronica Provenzale, Director and Researcher at the Accademia, will present her talk entitled “Being a performing artist in a peripheral region: limitation or opportunity? The example of the performing arts in Ticino.”

Her contribution draws on the outcomes of the “Building a Character” research project, conducted by the Accademia Dimitri in collaboration with DEASS-SUPSI and several local cultural partners. The study highlights the distinctive features of Ticino’s performing arts scene — a peripheral yet vibrant region — showing how local challenges can become powerful sources of creative innovation and community building.

The Accademia Teatro Dimitri is honoured to contribute to this international dialogue, offering a space where research meets artistic practice, and where theatre continues to question boundaries — geographical, cultural, and creative alike.

Registration is mandatory and can be completed by writing to culture@sgs-sss.ch.

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Programme

20th November, Locarno

DFA/ASP-SUPSI, Piazza San Francesco 16 – Room B005

13:30–14:00 Welcome

14:00–14:30  Opening and Introduction

14:30–16:30 Panel 1 – The Art Fields Between Centre and Periphery

Chair: Carole Christe (HEMU)

Speakers: A. Bélanger & M. Lussier, T. Daligault, C. Lévy, C. Casula

16:30–17:00  Coffee Break

17:00–18:00 Panel 2 – The Centre–Periphery Dichotomy

Chair: Stefano Losa (SUPSI)

Speakers: A. Quemin, U. Teruel

18:00–18:45  Drinks

19:30  Dinner (place to be confirmed)

Programme – 21st November, Avegno

Accademia Teatro Dimitri, Via Vallemaggia 10 – Aula Teoria

8:30–9:00  Coffee and Welcome

9:00–11:00 Panel 3 – Being an Artist in the Centre–Periphery

Chair: Demis Quadri (Accademia Teatro Dimitri)

Speakers: V. Provenzale, M. Lucarini, C. Tomasella, C. Hüser & L. K. Schreiber

11:00–11:30  Coffee Break

11:30–12:30 Panel 4 – The Centre–Periphery Dichotomy

Chair: Olivier Moeschler (UNIL)

Speakers: P. Genard et al., R. Mader et al.

12:30–13:00  Concluding Remarks

13:00–14:00  Lunch

14:00–15:00  Physicality of an Actor and a Puppet

15:15–16:30  Debate with Artists from Ticino Is Burning

16:30  End of the Conference