“We Rise by Lifting Others” Festival with Marinella Senatore: two days dedicated to participatory art and somatic movement.

On 14 and 15 November 2026, The Home of The Human Safety Net will host the ‘We Rise By Lifting Others’ festival, conceived with multimedia artist Marinella Senatore, in dialogue with the exhibition of the same name on display at the Art Studio in the Procuratie. Two workshops and a talk will explore movement as a tool for knowledge and the social impact of participatory art. Admission is free for all.

The festival stems from the journey launched with the exhibition “We Rise by Lifting Others”, created by Marinella Senatore for The Home of The Human Safety Net, in dialogue with the permanent interactive exhibition “A World of Potential”. The project took shape through a participatory process involving families at risk of social exclusion, accompanied by The Human Safety Net and some of its partner NGOs in Warsaw, Mestre and Palermo. At the core of the project lies a shared belief in the value of individual experiences and the power of collaboration, through which individuals' voices and contributions can come together in a collective expression that can create a sense of belonging and open up new possibilities.

It is this vision that guides the programme for the two-day festival, which weaves together reflection and experimentation. It starts on 14 November with a public conversation between Marinella Senatore and Pier Luigi Sacco, one of Europe’s leading experts on the economics of culture, social innovation and the impact of cultural practices on collective wellbeing. Theme of the meeting: the role of participatory art in building relationships, strengthening social bonds and fostering community growth. A dialogue to reflect on how shared cultural experiences can generate value and bring about social transformation.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, Marinella Senatore will guide two participatory workshops inspired by the methodologies developed by the artist through The School of Narrative Dance. The workshops will explore movement as a tool for knowledge, connection and collective transformation. Each participant will be invited to share their own wealth of experiences, memories and skills, transforming the body into a tool of shared language, capable of bridging cultural, generational and social differences.

Through the ‘We Rise by Lifting Others’ Festival, The Home of The Human Safety Net reaffirms its commitment to creating opportunities for connection and community, where everyone is encouraged to express themselves and recognise their own potential, contributing to collective wellbeing, and viewing art not merely as the result of a creative process, but as a shared experience capable of generating knowledge, strengthening social bonds and opening up new perspectives.

For further information and bookings: https://www.thehumansafetynet.org/it/the-venice-home/whats-on/2026/Festival-We-Rise-by-Lifting-Others