Per aspera ad astra

Come riconfigurare il carcere attraverso la cultura e la bellezza

How to reconfigure prisons through culture and beauty

“Per aspera ad astra – How to reconfigure prisons through culture and beauty” is a project led by ACRI, launched in 2018, as an experimental intervention aimed at encouraging the networking of theatre experiences in prison throughout Italy and strengthening active projects (or promoting the activation of new ones) within penitentiary institutions for the professional training of prisoners in the field of theatre and the performing arts and crafts.

The project proposal, which emerged as part of the work of the ACRI Commission for Cultural Activities and Heritage, is based on the model of the Compagnia della Fortezza, which has been operating for over 30 years in Volterra Prison with an intensive theatrical activity for prisoners, focusing on the intrinsic value of the arts.

In 2025, Per aspera ad astra reached its eighth edition, with the support of 12 banking foundation members of ACRI and the involvement of 16 penitentiary institutions and the same number of cultural practitioners. They have created a national network of theatre companies active in prisons, share their intervention methodology while respecting the specificities of each institution.

Participating Foundations

  • Finisterrae Teatri – Trento Prison
  • Fondazione Cariplo
  • Fondazione Carispezia
  • Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo
  • Fondazione Carige
  • Fondazione Perugia
  • Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Volterra
  • Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo
  • Fondazione Con il Sud
  • Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna
  • Fondazione di Sardegna
  • Fondazione Tercas
  • Fondazione Caritro
  • Theatre companies and prisons involved:
  • Carte Blanche / Compagnia della Fortezza – Volterra Prison (PI) 
  • Opera Liquida – Opera Prison, Milan
  • Theatre & Society – “Lorusso & Cutugno” Prison, Turin
  • Baccanica Association – “Pagliarelli” Prison, Palermo
  • FormAttArt – Bollate Prison (MI)
  • Teatro Nazionale di Genova – Women’s Section of Pontedecimo Prison, Genoa
  • Gli Scarti Association – La Spezia Prison
  • Cada Die Teatro – Uta Prison, Cagliari
  • Teatro Stabile dell’Umbria – Capanne Prison, Perugia
  • Teatro dell’Argine – Rocco D’Amato Prison, Bologna
  • Errant Voices – Saluzzo Prison (CN)
  • Teatro Necessario – Marassi Prison, Genoa
  • ACS Abruzzo – Teramo Prison
  • Puntozero Association – “Beccaria” Penal Institute for Juveniles, Milan
  • Teatro Kismet Opera di Bari, Bari Theatres – “Fornelli” Penal Institute for Juveniles, Bari