The IPER Festival delle periferie returns to Rome's Quadraro neighborhood for its fifth edition, titled "Super Lieux (Super luoghi) Periferie. Storie e geografie." Running until May 31, the festival features conferences, roundtables, study days, talks, exhibitions, and performances. A highlight is "Überlagerungen," a diffuse art review curated by Spazio Y that animates the Quadraro Vecchio district on May 16 with actions, installations, and shows from 4 PM to 11 PM. Participating venues include Spazio Kina, vineria Moggio, and osteria Grandma, with works by artists such as Lucia Bricco, Giulio Cassanelli, Felice Levini, and many others.
This festival matters because it reimagines the periphery of a major city—often seen as problematic—as a site of cultural potential and creative stratification. By activating public spaces and independent venues in Quadraro Vecchio, the event highlights how contemporary art can recode urban environments, foster community engagement, and amplify the voices of local artists and collectives. It also underscores the role of grassroots cultural spaces like Spazio Y in sustaining Rome's independent art scene and challenging center-periphery dynamics.