Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago Celebrates New Home with Free Open House at 6 p.m. Sept. 22

Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago, the cultural office of the Consulate General of Italy, marks the beginning of the fall season with a public open house and grand opening celebration at its new home located at 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1580, on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program begins at 6 p.m. The event will include the first U.S. performance by the acclaimed singer/songwriter duo Colapesce Dimartino, best known for their award-winning smash hits "Musica leggerissima" and "Splash," tours of the new space and the onsite exhibition, "A Palm of Victory," the first in Chicago of artwork by internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Emilia Faro, light refreshments and more.

Admission to the event is free, however reservations are required. All attendees must present a form of government-issued identification at building security upon arrival. For more information visit iicchicago.esteri.it

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The Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago's new home spans more than 6,000 square feet of publicly accessible space and includes an exhibit and event space, classrooms for Italian language and culture classes and more. "This is a very exciting time for us," says Chiara Avanzato, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago. "The Institute had been at its previous Chicago location since its founding over 40 years ago. September 22 will be the first day our new space officially opens to guests. This relocation sets us in even closer proximity to the heart of Chicago's cultural center and enhances our visibility and opportunities to interact and collaborate with the people and organizations of Chicago."

A highlight of the evening will be the first live U.S. performance by Colapesce Dimartino. This Italian acoustic/pop singer-songwriter duo from Sicily is composed of Lorenzo Urciullo (stage name Colapesce) and Antonio Di Martino (stage name Dimartino). This performance for the Italian Cultural Institute's opening represents a rare public appearance of the duo since 2024.

Attendees will also be the first to view the exhibition "A Palm of Victory," featuring works by Emilia Faro in an exhibit curated by Maria Chiara Di Trapani. The exhibition is Faro's first exhibition in Chicago and will remain on display at the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago through December 11, 2026 and may be viewed Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4.30 p.m. and by appointment. For more information visit iicchicago.esteri.it. Born in Catania and now based in Turin, Emilia Faro is an Italian contemporary artist whose evocative works intertwine personal narratives with universal questions of resilience, transformation and emotional freedom.

Founded in 1985, the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago is one of six cultural institutes of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the United States. Located just steps away from world-class museums, theaters, and other institutions that celebrate the arts, the Institute is a vibrant center for Italian culture. It operates as a source of information on Italian life and culture and showcases Italy's classical and contemporary heritage, encompassing art, music, cinema, design, architecture, literature, fashion, theater, cuisine, science and technology.

For visual and performing arts and cinematographic events, the Institute collaborates with museums, festivals, universities, and cultural institutions throughout 16 states. It also offers the following services to the public: Italian language and culture courses at ItalCultura, which is located within the premises of the Institute; six annual sessions of CILS linguistic certification exams of the University for Foreigners of Siena to certify candidates' knowledge of Italian as a foreign language; a library available to the public for consultation and loan of Italian books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and newspapers; information and documentation on Italy in the cultural field. For more information visit iicchicago.esteri.it.