Exhibition: Stories on your fingertips. Trees

March 25 – 29, 2026
Spazio Presente, Via Buoncompagno, Ancona
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM. Free admission.

An exhibition accessible to people with visual impairments. An experience to see, touch, smell, and hear.

The Exhibition

From March 25th to the 29th, Spazio Presente will host the nature-themed accessible exhibition titled "Stories on your fingertips: Trees", designed and created by the Federazione Nazionale delle Istituzioni pro Ciechi ETS (The National Federation for the Blind).

Organized by the "Benincasa" Municipal Library, the initiative is funded by the Center for Books and Reading (Cepell) as part of the "Città che legge" (City that Reads) grant, awarded to the Municipality of Ancona thanks to the collaboration of numerous partners: the "Cittàdella Margherita Hack" comprehensive school, the "Mannucci" art school, the Omero State Tactile Museum, Casa delle Culture, AssCoop, Ludus social cooperative, the Centro Papa Giovanni XXIII, Giaconi editore, and the bookstores Fogola, Giunti al Punto, and Oh che bel castello.

Events

The exhibition is accompanied by a rich calendar of events, readings, workshops, and multisensory guided tours.

These activities are designed for schools, educators, families, and anyone who believes in multisensory education. The goal is to raise awareness about visual impairment, promote social inclusion through interaction, and tackle educational poverty with a focus on non-formal educational activities.

Alessandra Viola, naturalist and Scientific Director of the exhibition, states: "We think we know WHAT trees are, but this initiative wants us to discover WHO they are. We admire their beauty, longevity, and strength, yet much remains unknown. To truly understand these green giants, botanical names aren't enough; we need imagination, poetry, and curiosity. That is why we involved artists to bring scientific and educational content to life through the emotions of discovering nature."

The illustrators and artists on display worked across four thematic areas: Germination, Growth, Adulthood, and The Life Cycle. Each theme is represented by art installations, tactile works, illustrated books, and workshops—all fully accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

Rodolfo Masto, President of the Federazione Nazionale delle Istituzioni pro Ciechi ETS: "Creating inclusive cultural events is part of our mission. Focusing on nature and the environment through both art and education has resulted in a unique exhibition—a multisensory journey for both sighted and blind visitors."

The Omero Museum and the "Once I Was Part of a Tribe" Workshop

The Omero Museum will feature the wooden sculpture "Ragazza con pappagallo" (Girl with Parrot) by Aron Demetz, along with the workshop "Once I was part of a tribe", scheduled for Sunday, March 29, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Participants will discover how an artist interacts with nature and transforms its materials. A new tactile book will introduce Demetz and his work. During the workshop, blindfolded participants will choose textures that move them to create their own tactile tree.

• Age: 5 and up.
• Participants: Maximum 20 people.
• Cost: Free of charge.
• Booking required.
• Phone: +39 071 222 5021 / 5022 / 5029
• Email: servizio.biblioteche@comune.ancona.it

Info

• Dates: March 25 – 29, 2026
• Location: Spazio Presente, Via Buoncompagno, Ancona
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM
• Admission: Free