Laboratorio Zanzara is a collaborative project centred on managing a daytime training centre for graphic arts, dedicated to individuals living with mental health challenges. The project recognises and develops each person’s abilities and talents, aiming to carry out high-quality work suitable for exhibition and sale. This process enables individuals to engage with the outside world and become active members of society, allowing them to participate in activities and contribute to their communities.

The daily collaboration between various professionals, including educators and experts in visual communication, design and art, enables the collection and development of diverse creative and expressive potential. The ultimate goal is to create a new language that can break down cultural barriers. The team shares a common space and works side by side with participants every day, supporting and inspiring them through workshops. Together, they foster creative and productive innovation, ensuring everyone is involved and aware of each stage. This inclusive working method also enables Laboratorio Zanzara to operate as a communication agency for external clients.

Alongside its focus on education and personal care, Laboratorio Zanzara carries out cultural projects aimed at raising awareness, fostering social inclusion and promoting its core values. By recognising fragility as a resource and applying cultural tools, the project seeks to strengthen a virtuous model that can be implemented and replicated in various contexts.

Every day, twenty people aged sixteen and over – each with their own differences, vulnerabilities and strengths – contribute their skills. The shared worktables provide a space for conversation, romance, debate, and creation. It is a space for conviviality, social interaction and personal growth.

“I do, therefore I am” is the guiding principle of a path that leads to fulfillment, both individual and collective: a journey of contribution and active participation in society.