Rome: A new cultural space opens in Trastevere (there's also an art radio station)

A new cultural space called ASIF has opened in Rome's Trastevere district at Via della Lungara 24, launching on May 8 with an exhibition titled "Educazione sentimentale per architetti" by artist and illustrator Chiara Carrer, running until June 20. The space is distinguished by an accompanying radio station that extends its reach through programs exploring art and the city, with a team including Yasmin Rosciglione, Arturo Zanaica, Novella Hoffer, Iacopo Taddia, Monica Dell'acqua, Edoardo Taddia, and Blanca Castro Xiques. The inaugural show, curated by Bonvini 1909 (named Artribune's gallery of the year in 2025), features over sixty works including collages, engravings, and sculptures centered on the theme of dwelling.

This opening matters because ASIF represents a model for cultural spaces that combine physical exhibitions with radio programming to foster community engagement and critical dialogue about art and urban life. The founders frame their mission as an "as if" ethical-political stance—continuing to create and curate as if cultural emancipation were possible, even in a time of crisis and exhausted imagination. By integrating a radio platform, ASIF expands access to art discourse beyond its physical walls, potentially serving as a replicable blueprint for small, independent art initiatives seeking to maintain relevance and social cooperation in challenging times.