From November 16, 2024, to February 23, 2025, the **Santa Giulia Museum** will host an important cultural initiative dedicated to community inclusion and participation. In collaboration with the Municipality of Brescia, the Brescia Museums Foundation, and the Verziano Correctional Facility, the exhibition “Khalid Albaih. The Season of Migration North” will be presented as part of the Brescia Peace Festival.
The project, titled **Ask me**, represents the third edition of a virtuous path aimed at making the museum an inclusive space. The exhibition will be inaugurated on November 9 and will be open for free during the festival. This exhibition marks a significant milestone in the research undertaken by the Brescia Museums Foundation on human rights through contemporary art, addressing current and relevant themes.
## Training and Cultural Mediation
One of the distinctive aspects of the Ask me project is the training of two inmates from the Verziano Correctional Facility, who will be prepared by the Foundation’s Educational Services to serve as cultural mediators. These guides will be available on weekends from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM to assist visitors in understanding the exhibited content. The goal is to facilitate an open dialogue between the artworks and the audience, offering new perspectives on the themes addressed.
## Collaboration with Khalid Albaih
The exhibition draws inspiration from the work of artist **Khalid Albaih**, known for his reflections on migration and human rights. During an artist residency at the Santa Giulia Museum, Albaih collaborated on the exhibition, contributing to a profound reflection on the relationship between society and the individual. This project not only provides an exhibition space but also offers the participating inmates an opportunity to express their artistic visions as part of their rehabilitation journey.
## An Innovative Cultural Model
Ask me fits into a tradition already established by other significant exhibitions such as “Victoria Lomasko. The Last Soviet Artist” and “Until We Are Free,” dedicated respectively to dissident artists and Iranian women. These events have demonstrated the importance of cultural activities in promoting social awareness and reinforcing the self-esteem of those involved.
The initiative represents a concrete example of the Santa Giulia Museum’s commitment to a cultural model that fosters social inclusion and active participation from the local community. With this innovative approach, the Brescia institution stands out in the national museum landscape for its mission focused on social development through art.
Khalid Albaih. The Season of Migration North will be curated by Elettra Stramboulis and will remain open until February 23, 2025, at the Santa Giulia Museum in Brescia.
Italian Version
