Many students who attend the Academy of Fine Arts, once they have finished their studies, leave. The question arises: What does this place offer those entering the world of work? This is precisely the question that can inspire initiatives like the Art As Your Future. Creatives for Emilia-Romagna project. Presented in the Aula Magna on October 6, 2025, at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, the project represents the desire to promote the personal growth of students, both male and female, and recent graduates, facilitating their access to the professional world.
Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, ph. Martina Platone, courtesy Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna
The Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, in addition to its essential international appeal, deeply values the creative talents of its students. As Mario Rivelli (Deputy Director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna) observed, the Art As Your Future project «will provide a solid bridge between their education and the world of work». The project is part of the Emilia-Romagna Region’s placement efforts to support the careers of talented young artists and is funded by the region using resources from the European Social Fund regional program. The initiative stems from the first law in Europe specifically created to attract, retain and develop highly specialized individuals in the region: Regional Law 2/2023, known as the “Talents Law”. As Gabriele Marzano (Directorate General for Knowledge, Research, Labor and Enterprise, Emilia-Romagna Region) points out, this law focuses not only on the exit of those who have already been trained, but also, and above all, on those still in training. For this reason, the initiative aims to contribute to the development of high-quality educational offerings, thanks to the involvement of industry experts, through training and orientation programs designed to provide concrete tools not only to graduates but also to those in their final year of studies.
Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, ph. Martina Platone, courtesy Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna
Maria Rita Bentini (professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna and project leader) also notes that «the Academy, thanks to its new training programs that have expanded from the visual arts to design, film, illustration, restoration and even communication and art education, is a major driver of innovation and its emerging talents can be even more so for the productive fabric of our Emilia-Romagna Region». It is no coincidence that the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna is among eleven institutions in the Emilia-Romagna Region to have received this funding, which was recognized thanks to its central role in the training of the Cultural and Creative Industries in the region. In this way, with the support of this law, we will be able to provide young people with the concrete opportunities they need to imagine a future here rather than elsewhere. This initiative is based on a simple yet essential concept: the need to think about economic sustainability: it is a creative industry, and as such, the potential economic prospects facing young people must be fertile and offer prospects for prosperity. For this reason, Eleonora Sette (Art-Er Skills and Territories for Innovation Unit) has made clear her intention to identify the specific qualities and skills students must possess to access various jobs, thus strengthening the connection between the region and Emilia-Romagna’s young talents. To implement this initiative, Art As Your Future envisions the involvement of two implementing partners: Calliope Consulting and Chialab.
Samuel Tonelli
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Always connected to the art world, Samuel Tonelli attended the course in Art Education and Communication at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna and furthered his studies with the two-year master’s program in Education and Cultural Mediation of Artistic Heritage. After gaining experience mediating in various exhibitions and teaching art history at the art high school in Bologna, he developed a passion for art writing, which he sees as a powerful means of expression capable of opening up visions, broadening horizons and enriching the understanding of diverse perspectives on reality.
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