REGGIO EMILIA, ITALY

Since 2018, Silkroad has partnered with the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia to explore the role of the artist in the city and the ways in which artistic collaboration manifests curiosity, listening, and a new notion of community and citizenship. Through community performances, presentations, activities with teachers and schools, and workshops with immigrant support organizations, Silkroad and Reggio Emilia aspire to reach across divisions and open conversation about identity and belonging, which informs Silkroad's extensive learning work with teachers and university partners.

(L) Drawn from African rhythms, No go slow was brought to Silkroad by composer and kora player Tunde Jegede. This was Tunde's first time joining Silkroad artists Jeffrey Beecher, Cristina Pato, and Kojiro Umezaki — the musicians had been playing together for less than 48 hours before this magical pop-up performance on a sidewalk in Reggio Emilia. It's a beautiful example of what can happen when strangers meet.

(R) Images from visits to the city of Reggio Emilia.