A Letter from the Chair of the Board

November 1st, 2024

Dear Civitellians,

We lived many seasons, it feels, during Group 4’s residence at the Castle. Our first meal together under the gazebo the air still carried a breath of summer, and the golden hour lingered long – enabling us to explore the woods and walks in the neighborhood of the Castle, befriending dogs and cats and donkeys along the way. Through rainy, wintry days we found solace in the library, discovering the inscriptions of those who’d come before and finding inspiration in the ways that Civitella has left its mark on others. Now the darkness comes early and in the mornings the Castle is enveloped in fog, the bushes and fences laced with glistening spider webs. 

It’s been a headlong rush of a start to my time at Civitella – arriving the same day as the Group 4 Fellows, welcoming the board to the Castle for the first time in five years just a week later, getting to know the remarkable, dedicated Staff, meeting Ranieri family members, welcoming Friends of Civitella to our programs, and learning the rhythms of life at the Castle. 

We bid farewell to the gorgeous artists of Group 4 just a few days ago, with a new tradition. In the footsteps of Ursula Corning, Civitella’s founder, we drove over the hills towards Lago di Trasimeno to Castel Rigone, to light a candle to the Madonna dei Miracoli – as she did at the end of every summer to make a wish to return again to Italy.

There are ways for you, too, to find your way back to Civitella. The winter sessions, now underway, offer opportunities to explore the treasures of Umbria while based at the Castle; and apartments and studios are often available to former fellows looking for places to work in the off season. I look forward to connecting with you all in the months to come, to learn more about your experiences, the projects you are involved in, and the ideas you have for our next chapter.

Un caro saluto from all of us at Civitella,

Heather Ewing
Executive Director
Civitella Ranieri Foundation