Amendolara shortlisted for “Piccolo Comune Amico 2026” thanks to

Amendolara nominated for the “Piccolo Comune Amico 2026” Award

The Municipality of Amendolara has announced its nomination for the national “Piccolo Comune Amico 2026” award in the Culture, Art and History category, highlighting the Open-Air Museum dedicated to the artist Antonio Sassone. The project focuses on enhancing local artistic heritage as a driver for cultural and territorial development.

Antonio Sassone, a sculptor and painter born in Amendolara in 1906 who also worked in Argentina, is a key figure for the community. A major repatriation in 2003 returned 67 of his works from Argentina to the town, providing the foundation for a distributed exhibition system.

The open-air museum concept adopted by the initiative moves beyond a single-site collection: artworks are embedded in everyday places, turning institutional and public spaces into permanent exhibition venues.

• The “Umberto Pagano” council chamber and the Town Hall have been adapted as exhibition sites;
• works are displayed in schools, churches and other symbolic local spaces to increase accessibility and community engagement;
• the project links to urban regeneration efforts to revitalize less celebrated areas.

The nomination aims to promote a local development model grounded in identity, memory and belonging, with art playing an active role in community life. The administration highlights the project’s potential to support urban regeneration and attract cultural visitors to the village.

Should the nomination receive recognition, the municipality plans to enhance public access to the works and integrate the open-air museum into cultural and educational routes for residents and visitors alike.