The Centre
The CIS, inaugurated in 2021, is a cultural centre in the village of Peccia with the aim of creating added value in the field of art and culture for Vallemaggia and Valle Lavizzara, particularly by enhancing three-dimensional art and Cristallina marble, a precious resource that is extracted from the only marble quarry in Switzerland, in Valle di Peccia.
This international project in the mountain village opens a window to the world of contemporary art. Peccia is surrounded by a beautiful alpine landscape and offers artists the inspiration of unspoilt nature. With a professional infrastructure for working with stone, wood and metal, the CIS caters for sculptors seeking a new way of using these tradition-rich materials. This affinity between history and the present, as well as the interaction between artists and art lovers, is placed at the centre of the activities
Thanks to the Centre, the small mountain village of Peccia has become a place of cultural exchange with the population of the valley, visitors, artists and interested parties from all over the world.
THE THREE FOCAL POINTS OF THE CENTRE
1. The promotion and support of emerging artists from all over the world. Artists are chosen on the basis of an international competition and are invited to work on their projects using local materials, in particular marble from the Cristallina quarry.
2. The creation of a centre of interest for art lovers through the staging of contemporary art exhibitions. A temporary exhibition is set up each year with works by internationally renowned artists.
3. The organisation of various interdisciplinary events with the aim of promoting exchange between the valley's population, visitors and various artistic genres. Events such as film screenings, book readings, concerts, debates and educational courses for schools.
We also organise various guided tours of the CIS for groups, schools, travel agencies and anyone interested in discovering this interesting reality. During the winter, the exhibition hall can be rented for dance, theatre and other courses.
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. Inside the exhibition space is a small take-away shop with snacks, homemade cakes, refreshing drinks and coffee.
In the centre of the village, each artist is provided with a studio flat in the Artists' House, a completely renovated old house with the possibility of living in the centre of the community.
