Who We are - E.R.A. – Eco Research Art
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Our vision is to influence public and private strategies related to eco-sustainable development. We aim to improve the lives of children, young mothers, and other fragile groups within specific communities.

Our mission involves mobilizing artists, cultural actors, and professionals across various fields to shed light on issues such as childhood fragility, economic disparities, and environmental challenges. Through our social awareness and educational projects, we are committed to constructing a cultural and emotional alphabet around issues of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Our vision is to influence public and private strategies related to eco-sustainable development. We aim to improve the lives of children, young mothers, and other fragile groups within specific communities.

Our mission involves mobilizing artists, cultural actors, and professionals across various fields to shed light on issues such as childhood fragility, economic disparities, and environmental challenges. Through our social awareness and educational projects, we are committed to constructing a cultural and emotional alphabet around issues of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

What we do

Our Actions Integrating Art, Research and Sustainable Social Equity

Our Actions Integrating Art, Research and Sustainable Social Equity

Art for environmental justice
We support art as a key force in articulating an environmental justice culture to educate communities and influence policymakers. Our focus is on showcasing how art and culture significantly impact social, cultural, educational, and economic spheres, contributing to the development of healthier communities.
Our actions
ERA engages in strategic philanthropy with a curated portfolio of initiatives. We identify and analyze specific social, health, and human rights concerns of the fragile segments of a community. We tailor our programs to activate community engagement and empowerment. In 2022, we introduced the Bloom and Leadership programs to educate on the importance of eco-sustainable nutrition and its crucial impact on mental health, advocating for everyone’s right to healthy food choices.
Multipliers framework
We create a “Multipliers” framework, we collaborate with local entities for both immediate and long-lasting community benefits, ensuring our initiatives contribute to environmental justice. Our partnerships and collaboration with non-profits and cultural institutions expand our impact, while our integrated evaluation approach refines our strategies for the sustainable betterment of vulnerable groups.

IMPACT & STORIES

The most impactful support a company can offer ERA is through a sustained, long-term engagement. We invite you to become a Corporate Partner through a triennial agreement focusing on three key areas that are critical and directly connected to ERA’s mission:

  • Improvements in nutritional knowledge and practices
  • Adoption of eco-conscious behaviors
  • A rise in artistic expression and art appreciation


How we measure the impact of art: we implement dietary assessments to children and mothers, we apply knowledge tests to collect qualitative insights into daily behavioral changes; through surveys and polls we measure partnership development and we collect attendance records to quantify volunteer involvement; after having delivered sustainable food practice workshops and through behavioral observation we identify the adoption of waste reduction practices such as recycling while keeping track of local organic food consumption. Finally, in the framework of artistic collaboration projects we deliver a number of tailor-made workshops to include vulnerable populations by using specialized attendance metrics to include these fragile segments.

Furthermore, participant feedback and satisfaction rates further inform our understanding of our programs’ effectiveness. These metrics are crucial for our ongoing adaptation and improvement efforts. As we await the comprehensive analysis from the forthcoming independent evaluation report, these indicators will guide our strategic planning, ensuring our initiatives continue to make meaningful and sustainable contributions to the communities we serve.

DISCOVER OUR STORIES

WHERE WE ARE

Venice

The Archivi della Misericordia in Venice's Cannaregio district serves as a vital hub for ERA’s initiatives, blending historical significance with contemporary creativity to provide a resonant backdrop for transformative missions.

Città della Pieve

Palazzo Bandini in Città della Pieve, Umbria serves as an architectural metaphor for ERA's layered dialogue of ideas, traditions, and inspirations, resonating with the town's artistic evolution from the Renaissance to the Neoclassical era.

Our founders and benefactors

Jerome Bellavista Caltagirone

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Jerome Bellavista Caltagirone

Born in Rome and raised in Paris, Jerome is the founder of Kult Records in New York City and a film producer. He is partner at Citrullo International, a company specialised in producing auteur films and documentaries. He has directed an array of documentaries and films, while also engaging in finance and the restoration of historic properties. Jerome's multifaceted career intersects creativity and investment, aligning seamlessly with ERA's mission to bolster cultural identity and stimulate community growth.

Adina Drinceanu

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Adina Drinceanu

Adina holds an M.A. in Art History after initially training as an artist. She has curated exhibitions in Italy, the United Kingdom, and Romania, with a particular focus on the complex interplay between art and sociopolitical phenomena such as totalitarianism and genocide. She is a member of the board of advisors for a private collection based in England. Adina is instrumental in shaping ERA’s mission, utilising art as a strategic tool for social change and cultural advancement.

Filippo Perissinotto

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Filippo Perissinotto

Born in Venice, Filippo has been an active contributor to projects related to cultural heritage and historical property restoration since 1995. In 2002, he founded Valorizzazioni Culturali, a group with operations throughout Italy, headquartered in Venice and Milan. The organisation specialises in revitalising historic estates by managing cultural initiatives and events, often in collaboration with esteemed institutions like the Venice Biennale and Milan's Salone del Mobile. In 2017, Filippo spearheaded the launch of “Italy Lab,” a program aimed at providing study abroad opportunities for universities and foreign research centres. He is also deeply committed to sustainable agricultural development and has worked on the restoration of historic vineyards. Filippo's work is in harmony with ERA's mission; he aims to preserve and enrich cultural heritage with a sustainable and forward-thinking approach.

Our advisory board

Alicia Norman-Butler

Art Dealer
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Alicia Norman-Butler - Art Dealer

Alicia is a Partner at Lindon & Co., Ltd., a private art dealership and advisory business in London focused on American Post-War and Contemporary masterworks. She has previously held positions at Christie’s and Hauser & Wirth in London and Magazzino d’Arte Moderna in Rome. Alicia is a Senior Advisor for OneWork, an impact initiative which takes important and transformative artworks into state schools in the UK. She received her MA in History of Art from The Courtauld Institute in London after graduating with a BA in Art History and Public Policy from Duke University in Durham, NC.

Antonio Fantasia

Social Impact Strategist
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Antonio Fantasia - Social Impact Strategist
Antonio is a consultant specialized in management and organizational development within the realm of social and inclusive economics, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. He designs successful and innovative collective project proposals, cultivating strategic relationships with relevant stakeholders and potential partners. With a diversified portfolio spanning public entities, international organizations, universities, NGOs, and corporations, he collaborates with both the public and private sectors, both in Italy and internationally, assisting clients in maximizing the social impact and sustainability of their actions. After extensive experience in the Balkans, he now divides his time between London, Brussels, and Rome, collects vinyl records, and adores Burtynsky.

Giovanni Gasparini

Art Business Consultant
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Giovanni Gasparini Art Business Consultant

Giovanni is a consultant for art and collectibles for Altiqa Group, a Monegasque and Swiss Multi-Family Office. He has been contributing for over a decade to ArtEconomy24 of Sole 24 Ore with reports on auction markets and international fairs. He is a regular guest of the MAMA course at SDA Bocconi. During his previous experience in London in the auction house world, he founded and directed the Master's program in Art, Law & Business at Christie’s Education London. In addition to art, his passions are books, vintage cars, and sailing and yachting.

Victor Nwankwo

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Victor Nwankwo

Elisa Schaar

Scholar and Strategist for Cultural projects

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Elisa Schaar Scholar and Strategist for Cultural projects

Elisa is a scholar, writer, and curator specialising in recent and contemporary art and a strategist for cultural projects and organisations. She is currently Program Director at the Terra Foundation for American Art, where she is responsible for the foundation’s convening grants and initiatives. She received her AB in Philosophy from Harvard and her DPhil in Art History from Oxford University and has held postdoctoral fellowships at The Courtauld and The Ruskin School of Art. Her writings have appeared in magazines and journals, such as Art History, American Art, and Artforum, as well as museum catalogues and artist monographs.

Silvia Zanette

Human Rights Expert
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Silvia Zanete - Human Rights Expert

Silvia Zanette, a multilingual lover of languages and cultures, champions civil rights for ethnic minorities and child rights. Growing up with Spanish and Italian, she added French and Russian to her repertoire, earning a Bachelor's in Russian Language and Culture at La Sapienza, Rome. Her focus on the Roma minorities' issues led her to a Master's in Politics, Security, and Integration from University College London. Her career took her to Colombia with the UN, working as a field officer for IOM on indigenous peoples' rights and integration projects. Zanette's expertise in child protection later earned her a role with UNHCR in Italy and Algeria.

Our collaborators and volunteers

Alice Casana

Illustrator and Volunteer
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Alice Casana - Illustrator and Volunteer

Alice Casana was born in Milan in 1980 and spent her childhood surrounded by illustrators’ large tables, amidst pencils, brushes, and colors. Raised in a family of artists, she sought some order by studying Law and working as a criminal lawyer for a while. However, even in courtrooms, she couldn’t stop drawing everything around her. In the last years, she has returned to dedicating her time to painting. She likes to alternate between large murales and paintings on fabrics as well as creating worlds of color on paper. Recently she begun illustrating and writing children’s stories.

Mirela Pribac Cingolani

Nutritionist and Scholar
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Mirela Pribac Cingolani - Nutritionist and Scholar

Mirela is a certified nutritionist, dietitian, and research associate at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureș, Romania. She has completed her education at both Cornell University in the United States and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Târgu Mureș. As the co-founder of the Holomed medical clinic, her research and practice focus primarily on microbiology and natural therapies for human health. Her expertise extends to various life stages including fertility, pregnancy, and childhood nutrition. She has initiated several projects with significant social impact, such as educational workshops on nutrition and oral health in Romanian public schools, as well as community-based courses aimed at enhancing immune health through appropriate nutrition. In 2019, she collaborated with the IPCC association to develop customised nutritional plans for families of children diagnosed with cancer. For ERA, Mirela contributes by designing evidence-based nutritional programs that align with the organisation's goals of promoting well-being and sustainable health. Additionally, she conducts training sessions aimed at equipping social workers, educators, and parents with the knowledge and skills to apply nutritional best practices in caregiving environments.

Marius Drinceanu

Website development

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Silvia Zanete - Human Rights Expert

Silvia Zanette, a multilingual lover of languages and cultures, champions civil rights for ethnic minorities and child rights. Growing up with Spanish and Italian, she added French and Russian to her repertoire, earning a Bachelor's in Russian Language and Culture at La Sapienza, Rome. Her focus on the Roma minorities' issues led her to a Master's in Politics, Security, and Integration from University College London. Her career took her to Colombia with the UN, working as a field officer for IOM on indigenous peoples' rights and integration projects. Zanette's expertise in child protection later earned her a role with UNHCR in Italy and Algeria.

Anna Favaretto

Coordinator

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Anna Favaretto - Coordinator

Anna graduated with a master's degree in Art History and Conservation of Artistic Heritage, specializing in Contemporary Art at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Her thesis examined the link between contemporary art and climate change, specifically how art communicates scientific ecological research. She also earned a Master's in Cataloging, Valorization, and Digitalization of Photographic Archives from the University of Trieste. Her interests lie in contemporary art's connection to digital, ecological, and communication fields, including experiences as a Registrar intern at the Venice Biennale and involvement in cultural event management.

Nathalie Signorini

Filmaker and Head of the ERAFILM Program
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Nathalie Signorini - Filmaker and Head of the ERAFILM Program

Nathalie Signorini, born in 1972, lives between Rome and Berlin, where she writes stories and produces investigation documentaries such as Chiamati (2008) , Small Change (2015) , Corona.film Prologue (2021), Perfect Soldier (2024). She is in charge of the ERAfilm program, coordinating and curating a film series that showcases new and old films revealing worlds, ideas, and desires that speak about us, yet remain unexplored.

Maria Teresa Lutteroth Romo

Educator and Head of the Bloom Program
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Maria Teresa Lutteroth Romo - Educator and Head of the Bloom Program

Maria Teresa originates from Tijuana, Mexico, and has been residing and working in Italy for over seven years. She holds a degree in Pedagogy and Art from the University of San Diego and has obtained her Montessori teaching certification from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. Since 2002, Maria Teresa has been committed to the field of education and currently serves as an English native-speaking Montessori teacher at the nursery of the MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation). Her approach to education is profoundly influenced by the Montessori method, focusing specially on sensory and perceptual learning. She employs a range of diverse educational tools, including music and art, to enrich her teaching practices. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, Maria Teresa adds a multicultural dimension to her educational approaches. For ERA, Maria Teresa develops specialised educational projects that incorporate Mirela's nutritional advice and Adina's artistic perspectives into Bloom program that are in sync with her unique areas of specialisation.

Davide Tozzato

Agricultural Entrepreneur and Volunteer
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Davide Tozzato - Agricultural Entrepreneur and Volunteer

Davide has earned his degree in Economy and Management of Arts and Cultural Activities from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Initially drawn to the art world, his interests shifted in 2010 towards the intersection of agriculture and culture. He co-founded Meravégia, an agri-food entity focusing on natural cultivation in San Erasmo until 2018. Since 2020, he has been leading the "Osti in Orto" project, revitalizing historic agricultural plots with a focus on indigenous varieties, and educating young minds on the symbiotic relationship between Earth and humanity.

Michela Valerio

Agricultor and Educator
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Michela Valerio - Agricultor and Educator

Michela Valerio, passionate about plant knowledge, runs the Pepita farm in Val Tramontina, producing medicinal plants, edible herbs, and flowers. The farm embodies social agricultural values, offering educational and creative activities for disadvantaged individuals and promoting personal and social development through nature-focused workshops.

Agostino Vazzoler

Agricultor and Educator
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Agostino Vazzoler - Agricultor and Educator

Agostino Vazzoler is a former teacher and pivotal figure in the Orti in Vista project, enriching the lives of about 1,500 students and 80 teachers from San Donà's comprehensive institutes over eight years. His work integrates agricultural, environmental, and health education. 

Partners

Gruppo Valorizzazioni Culturali

Gruppo Valorizzazioni Culturali’s core mission revolves around the enhancement of historic properties through cultural initiatives and events, emphasizing contemporary art, architecture design, and fashion. Based in Venice and Milan, Italy, their operational bases extend to Veneto, Milan, Tuscany, Sicily, and London. While the company’s primary focus is on managing prestigious properties and organizing cultural events, there is no specific mention of involvement in agriculture in the provided information.