The Center
The CIS, inaugurated in 2021, is a cultural hub in the village of Peccia with the goal of creating added value in the fields of art and culture for Vallemaggia and Valle Lavizzara, with a particular focus on three-dimensional art and Cristallina marble - a precious resource quarried from Switzerland's only marble quarry, located in the Peccia Valley.
Through this international project, the mountain village opens a window onto the world of contemporary art. Peccia is surrounded by a stunning alpine landscape and offers artists the inspiration of unspoilt nature. With professional facilities for working with stone, wood, and metal, the CIS caters for sculptors seeking a new ways to use these materials steeped in tradition. This connection between history and the present, as well as the interaction between artists and art enthusiasts, is at the heart of its activities.
Thanks to the Center, the small mountain village of Peccia has become a hub for cultural exchange among the valley's residents, visitors, artists, and enthusiasts from around the world.
THE CENTER'S THREE FOCAL POINTS
1. The promotion and support of emerging artists from around the world. Artists can use the Center's studios and are invited to work on their projects using local materials, particularly marble from the Cristallina quarry.
2. Creating a hub of interest for art lovers through the organization of contemporary art exhibitions. A temporary exhibition is held annually, featuring works by Swiss and international artists.
3. The organization of various interdisciplinary events aimed at fostering exchange among the valley's residents, visitors, and various artistic genres. Events include film screenings, book readings, concerts, debates and educational workshops for schools.
We also organize various guided tours of the CIS for groups, schools, travel agencies, and anyone interested in discovering this fascinating place.
THE STRUCTURE
The CIS consists of five working studios (one for each artist), a versatile stone processing yard equipped with a crane, three workshops for wood, metal and stone processing, and an exhibition building dedicated to temporary exhibitions and lectures.
In the heart of the village, every artist has the opportunity to rent a studio apartment in the Casa degli artisti, a fully renovated historic house that offers the chance to live at the center of the community.
