The climate crisis can no longer be postponed to the future. It is a daily challenge that demands a complex and forward-looking vision. Its effects are not only environmental but also health-related, economic, social, and cultural. This is why there is an increasing discussion about polycrisis and the need for a holistic approach capable of intertwining different fields of knowledge and languages. Understanding the data is the first step towards imagining, together, a new way of inhabiting the planet.
Moving in this direction is the Festival for the Earth (FOR), which will take place from 16 to 18 October 2025 in Turin. Conceived by artist Maria Rebecca Ballestra, the festival now serves as a platform promoting concrete actions and reflections for ecological transition. It is designed as a site-specific event, adapting to each hosting location by engaging deeply with its territorial, social, and cultural context. The Festival is open to everyone, regardless of age, background, or origin.
The theme of the 2025 edition is water, understood as a common good, a vital resource, and a symbol of connection between humanity, the environment, and society.
Water scarcity, rising sea levels, unequal access to water resources, the link between water and mental health, and water as a cultural and ritual matrix, Festival FOR is an invitation to rediscover an element often taken for granted, yet fundamental to life on Earth.
Among the highlights, on Thursday 16 October at 17:00, WANE – We Are Nature Expedition, the opening of a photographic exhibition in the Sala delle Colonne of the Valentino Castle, will be followed by a discussion with Valeria Barbi (political scientist and naturalist), Maurizio Rivolta (Vice President of FAI), Emanuela Celona (journalist, Piemonte Parchi, Piedmont Region), and Matthew Burnett-Stuart, Programme Manager on environmental crimes at UNICRI.
The Festival does not aim to provide simple answers but to inspire new questions: Is it possible to live more equitably on this planet? What role can culture play in the ecological transition? How can we turn knowledge into action? Asking the right questions is the first step towards building a shared, aware, and sustainable future.
At the heart of FOR lies the interaction between art, science, and communication: a dialogue among diverse spheres that allows environmental challenges to be understood not only with analytical precision but also with emotional depth. The philosophy underlying the festival is that of “One Health”, recognising the interdependence between human, animal, and ecosystem health. Art is not merely entertainment or a communication tool but a means of understanding and anticipating phenomena. Science is not only analysis but a lever for transformation. Communication is not simplification but a bridge between worlds.
The programme includes talks, installations, workshops, and immersive experiences. Among the venues are the Valentino Castle, the Academy of Sciences, and the GRAPES Campus of the Polytechnic University of Turin, the world’s first high-tech urban vineyard. These spaces become both the setting and content of the festival, fostering a constant dialogue between the urban and natural landscapes. The event will feature Daniela Carrea, Artistic Director of the festival; Marco Merola, journalist and Director of Scientific Communication and Outreach; and Giuseppe La Spada, visual artist. Many international guests will soon be announced, underscoring the event’s global reach.
In a time marked by uncertainty and transformation, Festival FOR aims to be an open laboratory, a space for creating connections, imagining solutions, and sharing responsibility. A place where art, science, and citizenship come together to confront today’s challenges and shape a better tomorrow.
Join the Festival For The Earth
Turin, 16–18 October 2025
Free admission