The Rete delle Grandi Macchine a Spalla brings “Machines for Peace” to

Rete delle Grandi Macchine a Spalla in Brussels: culture, ritual and peace

From 21 April to 4 June 2026, the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels and the European Parliament will host Machines for Peace, a multimedia installation by the Rete delle grandi Macchine a spalla, inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2013. The project pairs contemporary visual and sound art with living ritual traditions to highlight the role of intangible cultural heritage in community cohesion and cultural diplomacy.

Featured festivals and highlights

• Trasporto della Macchina di Santa Rosa (Viterbo)
• Faradda dei Candelieri (Sassari)
• I Gigli (Nola)
• La Varia (Palmi)

The exhibition combines visual installations — including the "Gloria" crowning element with the statue of Santa Rosa and the sculptural heads from the Simulacrum project — with documentary films by Francesco De Melis, creating an immersive sensory journey through shared ritual practices.

Conference at the European Parliament — 22 April

On the morning of 22 April a conference organised under the auspices of Vice-Chair Antonella Sberna will take place at the European Parliament. Speakers will discuss intangible cultural heritage and the links between the 2003 UNESCO Convention and the Council of Europe’s Faro Convention (2005), with emphasis on community roles in safeguarding traditions.

Previous editions and international outreach

"Machines for Peace" has been presented in several international venues: Bethlehem Peace Center, the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague, exhibition spaces in Belgrade including the National Library of Serbia, and Galerie Joseph during the tenth session of States Parties to the 2003 UNESCO Convention. In December 2025 the project was also shown at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Montesanto in Rome.

Organisers and supporters

The initiative is promoted by the Rete delle grandi Macchine a spalla, conceived and scientifically coordinated by Patrizia Nardi, in collaboration with the ICPI (Central Institute for Intangible Cultural Heritage) of the Italian Ministry of Culture. It is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and patronaged by the European Parliament, the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and the participating municipalities (Viterbo, Nola, Palmi, Sassari), with contributions from local dioceses and international partners.

Practical information

Dates: 21 April – 4 June 2026. Venues: exhibition rooms of the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels and selected spaces at the European Parliament. The event is aimed at cultural operators, heritage communities, institutions and the public interested in intangible heritage and cultural diplomacy.

Why attend: the exhibition shows how UNESCO-listed ritual traditions can act as bridges for intercultural dialogue and peace-building among communities.