Associazione Francesco Marco Attanasi APS

The APS Francesco Attanasi www.francescoattanasi.org , based in Soleto, was founded in June 2005 to carry forward the cultural and research work of the young musicologist from Soleto, Francesco Attanasi, by promoting the rediscovery of Salento’s musical traditions and the enhancement of the area’s artistic and cultural heritage.

Over the years, the association has established itself as a structured and dynamic cultural organization, actively involved in the organization of events, educational programs, and social projects aimed at a broad and diverse audience, including children, young people, families, schools, professionals in the field, and citizens driven by curiosity and a strong interest in local culture.

Within the association operates an ethnomusical folk group, Sciacuddhuzzi. Educational activities represent one of the core pillars of the APS, with ongoing courses in tambourine, pizzica, guitar, and digital photography, as well as educational workshops, after-school programs, and school camps for primary and lower secondary school students.

The association has also promoted and supported projects with a strong social impact, such as music therapy activities for young people with autism spectrum disorders, and solidarity initiatives like the project "Ci facciamo in 3D”, launched during the Covid-19 emergency to produce and donate personal protective equipment to healthcare workers.

In the field of cultural and identity-related events, the APS has long curated major initiatives such as La Balconata, now an integral part of the itinerant festival La Notte della Taranta, the Santa Claus Village, and the Living Passion of Christ, contributing to the enhancement of the historic village of Soleto and encouraging active community participation.

In 2025, the association promoted the summer cultural project “Macàre e Macàrie”, held in Soleto: a series of narratives, events, and activities dedicated to rediscovering the history, legends, and collective imagination connected to the local macàre, with the aim of safeguarding and sharing local historical and anthropological memory through contemporary and engaging forms of expression.