EXPLODE | Market, laboratori, talk, dj set, proiezioni, eventi

**ExplODE RETURNS, the multifaceted event that ignites the month of December with two days entirely dedicated to creativity, art, craftsmanship, auteur cinema, and music.**

*An engaging and packed schedule designed for a diverse audience comprising families, enthusiasts, the curious, and adults seeking original cultural experiences.*

ExplODE returns to the city, and for the 2025 edition, it embraces the festive spirit by transforming into a vibrant Christmas festival, rich in meetings, workshops, screenings, music, and activities designed to engage diverse audiences, from families to creatives, from the youngest to enthusiasts of visual arts, cinema, and contemporary culture. On December 6th and 7th, the Officina degli Esordi comes alive for two days with a packed and dynamic program, offering a continuous cultural itinerary from 10 AM to 10 PM that combines artistic expressions, experimentation, and collective participation. Accompanying the artistic and experiential activities, the Market also returns.

Throughout the event, the atrium and common areas of the Officina degli Esordi transform into a small creative village where designers, illustrators, contemporary artisans, independent publishers, and young designers present their productions.

It's an environment that fully reflects the spirit of the festival: accessible, informal, surprising, traversable at any moment of the day, and capable of showcasing the variety of emerging creativity. To participate as an exhibitor, the dedicated online form is available (https://forms.gle/RaHpvWvowhRomH1VA).

The opening day, Saturday, December 6, begins with the readings "Saint Nicholas vs. Santa Claus," curated by Marianna di Muro of the MadiMù association, a free activity dedicated to children aged 3 to 10 that officially kicks off the festive atmosphere from 10:30 AM to 1 PM.

Also during the morning, from 11 AM to 2 PM, the Terrarium workshop by the Sana Pianta Association, a practical course that guides participants in creating small miniature gardens (reservations at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu30c1qptTjAyzlTfdK6KptHYrHNca8gdeDc359yy_JAiWUw/viewform), while the bar area hosts the "Little Chefs" cooking workshop, dedicated to making shortbread biscuits and aimed at children (reservation here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDvItDJ9WBXEXgQYODU7RueIsmjkaDbiHW7sAUVQssGCAJFA/viewform).

Simultaneously, a small creative workshop kicks off with an eco-sustainable decorations workshop with Ily & Vick (reservations https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvpQqEQt9zLi2nH830PnD6nYG0SFEwE_CIjh_0n1JLS9mZDA/viewform), designed to create handmade decorations that precede the lighting of the big Christmas tree scheduled for the next day.

At 11:30 AM, Luca Cascella also guides a green tour to discover the urban laboratory, a free experience that invites you to observe and interpret the natural spaces of the Officina with new eyes.

Throughout the day, from 10 AM to 10 PM, visitors can see "Puglia Dolorosa," the analog photographic exhibition by Valentina Carlucci and Mariangela Addolorata Petrera, an intense and narrative visual journey that portrays landscapes, faces, and atmospheres of the region through the eyes of the two authors.

In the afternoon, the focus shifts to artisanal languages with "Magnotti Mischiefs – Troublemakers," a ceramics workshop managed by Claudia Giordano for children and active from 4 PM to 6 PM (reservations here https://forms.gle/Q4pEjEaiHKdJwKZy8). Immediately after, from 5 PM to 7 PM, culinary art returns to the fore with the Christmas Cartellate workshop for adults, courtesy of the "Little Chefs" association, a moment of rediscovering the typical gastronomic traditions of the festive season.

From 5 PM, one of the most anticipated events of the festival "Word Sound & Music" comes to life with a Special Talking Heads feature with various moments dedicated to a great music myth. Guided by **DAVID BYRNE**, the TALKING HEADS broke many barriers between the late 70s and early 80s. We’ll talk about it in a discussion with journalist Livio Costarella and professor and musician Pierpaolo Martino, who will present the subsequent film at 6 PM.
“STOP MAKING SENSE” from 1984, directed by Jonathan Demme, is a cult piece of musical cinema that still exudes pure vitality on the big screen today. It concludes at 8 PM with a music selection spanning vinyl records of the "other" 80s experienced as a DJ by Mimmo Superbass, ranging from reggae to hip hop and world music.

On Sunday, December 7, ExplODE enters the heart of its more familial and festive dimension. From 10 AM to 1 PM, MadiMù animated readings return, accompanying children into the magic of Christmas with stories, characters, and dedicated atmospheres.

Throughout the morning, the eco-sustainable decorations workshop with Ily & Vick and the green tour guided by Luca Cascella are also renewed, both highly awaited by the younger audience. The "Puglia Dolorosa" photographic exhibition also continues throughout the day.

From 5 PM to 7 PM, space is given to FAN – Festivals Animation Network with short film screenings by young European animators aged 18 to 30, emerging talents capable of exploring different languages and sensibilities through original and sophisticated works. The program, curated by La Scatola Blu, l’Armata Brancaleone, and the LBM Group, offers a valuable overview of contemporary auteur animation.

The afternoon continues with two appointments dedicated to storytelling and visual culture. From 4 PM to 6 PM, Chiara Spinelli presents "Don't Come Back Wasted," a meeting managed by Spine Bookstore that develops as a narrative workshop inspired by the silent book "Il pacco da giù" and invites participants to bring a symbolic object connected to their roots. At 6 PM, it enters the world of Dr. Pira with "Fantasy Today: Are We in Danger?", a humorous and engaging talk curated by Spine Bookstore dedicated to drawn literature and new imaginaries.

The evening continues with “KaraOde – Wrong Hits (and Done Right!)”, an event conceived by Officina degli Esordi that centers on voice, play, and improvisation from 8:30 PM to 10 PM, then closes definitively from 10 PM to midnight with Dr. Pira's DJ set, further confirming the eclectic and playful character of the festival.

This year too, ExplODE is confirmed as a place of exchange, discovery, and participation, capable of mixing styles and generations, traditions and innovation, spontaneity and research. Two dense and shared days celebrating creativity as a lively, collective, and inclusive experience.

All updated information, along with activity reservation forms, are available on the official website of the Officina degli Esordi: www.officinadegliesordi.it/explode/.

-------------------------------------------------------
**DETAILED PROGRAM**
**DECEMBER 6, 2025**

*10:30 AM - 1:00 PM Event Area*
Readings "SAINT NICHOLAS VS. SANTA CLAUS" curated by Marianna di Muro of the MadiMù association.
For children aged 3-10.
Free activity

*11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Bruno Munari Area*
"TERRARIUM" Workshop by the Sana Pianta Association.
Activity by reservation.

*10:00 AM – 10:00 PM* **“PUGLIA DOLOROSA”**
Analog photographic exhibition by Valentina Carlucci and Mariangela Addolorata Petrera.
Free event

*10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Workshop Area*
"ECO-SUSTAINABLE DECORATIONS" WORKSHOP with ILY & VICK
Handmade decorations creation in preparation for the lighting of the big Christmas tree we will inaugurate on December 7 in the atrium of Via Crispi!
For children aged 3 to 10.

*10:00 AM – 12:00 PM*
“LITTLE CHEFS” WORKSHOP
Preparation of shortbread biscuits – culinary workshop by “Little Chefs.”
Activity by reservation.

*11:30 AM – 12:30 PM* TOUR IN THE GREEN
Curated by Luca Cascella – exploration of the urban laboratory.
Free activity

*4:00 PM – 6:00 PM* “MAGNOTTI MISCHIEFS TROUBLEMAKERS” WORKSHOP
Ceramics Workshop for children curated by Claudia Giordano.
Activity by reservation.

*5:00 PM – 7:00 PM* CHRISTMAS CARTELLATE WORKSHOP
Culinary workshop of cartellate for adults, by the “Little Chefs” association.
Activity by reservation.

*From 5:00 PM*
**WORD SOUND & MUSIC - SPECIAL TALKING HEADS**
5:00 PM TALK with Livio Costarella and Pierpaolo Martino
6:00 PM MOVIE: “STOP MAKING SENSE”
8:00 PM DJ SET: “Black eighties” by Mimmo Superbass
Free entry

**DECEMBER 7, 2025**
*10:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Event Hall*
ANIMATED READINGS
Animated readings to celebrate the magic of Christmas together.
Curated by Marianna di Muro of the MadiMù association.
For children 3-10 years.
Free activity

*10:00 AM – 10:00 PM* “PUGLIA DOLOROSA”
Analog photographic exhibition by Valentina Carlucci and Mariangela Addolorata Petrera.
Free event.

*10:30 AM - 12:30 PM – Workshop Hall*
"ECO-SUSTAINABLE DECORATIONS" WORKSHOP with ILY & VICK
Handmade decorations creation in preparation for the lighting of the big Christmas tree we will inaugurate on December 7 in the atrium of Via Crispi!
For children aged 3 to 10.

*11:30 AM – 12:30 PM* TOUR IN THE GREEN
Curated by Luca Cascella – exploration of the urban laboratory.
Free activity

*4:00 PM – 6:00 PM* “MAGNOTTI MISCHIEFS - TROUBLEMAKERS” WORKSHOP
Ceramics Workshop for children managed by Claudia Giordano.
Activity by reservation.

*3:00 PM – 9:00 PM* **FAN - FESTIVALS ANIMATION NETWORK**
Screening of short films by European animators aged 18 to 30: young talents to watch who are ready to capture the public with unique stories, styles, and sensibilities.
Curated by “La Scatola Blu, l’Armata Brancaleone, and the LBM Group.”
Free entry

*4:00 PM – 6:00 PM*
**DON’T COME BACK WASTED**
With Chiara Spinelli, curated by Spine Bookstore.
For more information, email directly to spinebookstore@gmail.com.

*6:00 PM – 7:30 PM*
**DR. PIRA - FANTASY TODAY: ARE WE IN DANGER?**
Curated by SPINE Bookstore with Pira.
Free entry

*8:30 PM – 9:30 PM*
**“KARAODE” – WRONG HITS (AND DONE RIGHT!)**
Curated by Officina degli Esordi
Activity by reservation.
REGISTRATION and INFO HERE

*10:00 PM – 12:00 AM*
**DJ SET by Dr. Pira.**
Free entry

For more information about individual days, visit the website: https://officinadegliesordi.it/explode/