The third edition of the De Linea Art Festival took place on May 2-3 at the Certosa di Pontignano near Siena, Italy. Curated by Matteo Marsan and Riccardo Guasco, the event transformed the historic monastery into a living laboratory of drawing, illustration, and performance. Nine illustrators—including Marina Marcolin, Francesco Poroli, Elisa Macellari, Gianluca Folì, Ale Giorgini, Gloria Pizzilli, Matteo Berton, Giovanna Giuliano, and Daniele Caluri—participated in a week-long residency, producing works inspired by the site and the festival's theme "Crepe e spiragli" (Cracks and Glimmers), a contemporary interpretation of a Leonard Cohen quote. Over 500 visitors attended workshops, talks, and shared creative sessions, including a workshop by Fondazione Il Bisonte and performances by actress Daniela Morozzi and graphic poet Alessandro Valenti (Alvalenti).
This festival matters because it demonstrates a growing model for art events that blend artist residencies with community participation, emphasizing process over product. By focusing on drawing—a foundational but often overlooked medium—and by actively involving local students (over 150 from the Liceo Artistico Buoninsegna di Siena), the festival fosters creative education and cross-generational dialogue. In an era dominated by digital and technical art, De Linea Art Festival champions manual skill, relational creativity, and the slow, collaborative making of art, offering a counterpoint to fast-paced market trends.