Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi
In 2012, the Carla Fendi Foundation became a Main Partner of the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, a role it continues to hold to this day.
Carla Fendi began attending the Festival at a very young age, having had the privilege of developing a personal friendship with Giancarlo Menotti, its founder, driving force and creative mind. Conceived as a way of bringing together, through art and culture, nations torn apart by the Second World War, the Festival quickly established itself as an innovative event of extraordinary international appeal. Spoleto became a meeting place for Hollywood stars, musicians, directors, literary and artistic avant-gardes, and intellectuals from around the world, all drawn to its major premieres—glamorous occasions that attracted large crowds and an impressive array of celebrities. Among several possible locations in central Italy, Menotti chose Spoleto, a town that already boasted three theatres. From his home overlooking Piazza Duomo, in the very heart of the city, he remained the Festival’s guiding force and true mastermind until his death.
Through the Foundation, Carla Fendi wished to support the festival after a difficult period following the death of Maestro Menotti, offering her backing to Giorgio Ferrara in his role as Artistic Director and collaborating on the festival’s program with numerous productions, events, and exhibitions. She also gave back to the city and the festival one of its iconic venues, the Teatro Caio Melisso, whose lengthy restoration was financed by the Foundation and which today also bears her name. In recognition of her outstanding commitment as a patron of the arts, Carla Fendi was awarded honorary
citizenship of Spoleto and joined the Board of Directors of the Festival Foundation, a position she held until her passing and which was subsequently taken over by Maria Teresa Venturini Fendi, who succeeded her as President of the Carla Fendi Foundation. During the period of Monique Veaute’s artistic direction, and continuing today under Daniele Cipriani, the Carla Fendi Foundation has renewed its commitment as Main Partner, supporting the festival also through the production of independent cultural events related to its program.
