The Most Important in Brief

Fondazione Claudia Lombardi per il teatro, based in Lugano, supports young theatre companies and new stage languages, with a particular focus on contemporary dramaturgy. We offer emerging artists financial resources, workspaces, accommodation, mentoring, and professional networks, creating opportunities for exchange with audiences and cultural professionals. Through curated series, talks, and accessible cultural events, we bring people closer to theatre as a place of encounter, where artists and communities can reflect together on contemporary issues.

1. Purpose (SOGC)

   Fondazione Claudia Lombardi per il teatro has the purpose of supporting and promoting contemporary theatre as a shared cultural resource, with particular attention to young companies and new stage languages. Operating neutrally with respect to political and religious orientations, the Foundation seeks, on the one hand, to create the conditions for new generations of artists to develop their work in a professional way and lay the groundwork for future artistic and financial autonomy, and, on the other, to strengthen theatre as an accessible space for sharing and dialogue about the reality that surrounds us.

2. The Most Important in Brief

   Fondazione Claudia Lombardi per il teatro, based in Lugano, supports young theatre companies and new stage languages, with a particular focus on contemporary dramaturgy. We offer emerging artists financial resources, workspaces, accommodation, mentoring, and professional networks, creating opportunities for exchange with audiences and cultural professionals. Through curated series, talks, and accessible cultural events, we bring people closer to theatre as a place of encounter, where artists and communities can reflect together on contemporary issues.

3. Goals

   - To ensure that young theatre companies can grow in professional conditions, transforming artistic ideas into solid, achievable projects. - To contribute to the creation of meaningful contemporary works that enrich the cultural landscape and offer new perspectives. - To strengthen the artistic and organisational skills of companies, so that the support provided generates autonomy and continuity over time. - To build stable relationships with theatres, festivals and partner organisations, so that the supported projects can develop, gain visibility and tour. - To foster ongoing dialogue between artists, audiences and the community, keeping theatre a vibrant space for engaging with the present. - To broaden and diversify cultural participation by involving young people, families and audiences less accustomed to theatre, and by reducing economic and social barriers to access.

4. Principles

   The Foundation is committed to providing continuous support to contemporary theatre and young companies, bringing together artistic creation, professional accompaniment and audience engagement. We operate from Ticino with a national and cross-border outlook, in order to strengthen the emerging scene and its ties with the community. Our work is guided by a number of core principles: - Focus on process: we place research and development processes at the centre, offering artistic residencies that provide time, workspace, accommodation and financial support, so that works can be created under professional conditions. - Structured support: we do not limit ourselves to funding projects: we stand alongside companies with artistic mentoring, organisational advice and access to professional networks, thereby strengthening their skills and autonomy over the long term. - Relationship with the audience: we connect artistic creation with people through curated series, open rehearsals, talks and accessible events, enabling audiences to follow the development of works closely and to engage with contemporary stage languages. - Working in partnership: we build collaborations with theatres, festivals and institutions in Switzerland and across borders, in order to create more opportunities for development and touring for artists. - Transparency: we select projects through public and open calls.

5. Measures

   To achieve its objectives, the Foundation intervenes mainly through: - Annual calls and open calls to select young companies and emerging artists in the field of contemporary theatre. - Artistic residency programmes that offer artists time and workspaces, accommodation and a financial contribution. - Professional support in the form of artistic mentoring and organisational consultancy. - A public programme consisting of curated series, open rehearsals, talks and cultural events, complemented by convivial moments that foster dialogue between artists, audiences and partners. - Measures to promote economic and social accessibility (reduced-price tickets, free admission for certain groups, collaborations with organisations that encourage access to culture). - Collaborations with theatres, festivals and partner organisations in Switzerland and across borders, to support the development and touring of the projects.

6. Financing

   The Foundation’s financing is based on a diversified model. In particular, the main sources of income are: - Contributions from public bodies: support from the City of Lugano and, depending on the projects, from other institutions and cross-border cooperation programmes. - Public-interest foundations: contributions from cultural and social foundations active at regional and national level. - Companies: financial contributions or in-kind support from businesses that choose to support the Foundation. - Private donations and the Amici di Càsoro Association: donations from individuals, both occasional and regular, including membership fees from the Amici di Càsoro Association, which by statute supports the Foundation’s activities. - Own income from activities: revenue from ticket sales and bar service.

Area of Impact

• Switzerland
• Italy
• Ticino, Switzerland