Unidee – university of ideas is a 4-month residential study program designed to train people in the new profession of “activator”, which combines characteristics and skills associated with artists, curators, entrepreneurs and social planners. Over the years, Zegna scholarships have enabled artists and researchers from Colombia, China, Brazil and India to participate in Unidee, and live and work Cittadellarte in Biella. While participants are in residence, weekly seminars and workshops are organized, with experts from various fields including economics, business, sustainable architecture and sociology. The course also includes study visits and meetings with art critics and curators. The underlying purpose of the program is to help participants develop projects using the appropriate instruments: project management and analysis, fundraising and creative methods and strategies. The course culminates in the “unidee in progress open studio”, in which participants exhibit the “work in progress” they’ve carried forward during the four months. unidee in progress is open to the public and concentrates on the process of feedback to go beyond the concept of a conventional “exhibition” and foster interaction and dialogue between participants and visitors.
