A Letter from the DIRECTOR

April 18th, 2025

Dear Civitellians,

Before this month is out, the first group of Fellows of 2025 will arrive at the Castle. We welcome them more committed than ever to our belief in the transformative powers of creative expression and the importance of investing in Civitella as a space to pursue truths, understand each other and ourselves, and uplift voices from around the world. 

As the season begins, we celebrate two people who have given so much to Civitella: Helen Evarts and Dana Prescott. At a recent meeting, the Board recognized their service by granting them honorary titles. Helen, a founding member of the Civitella Ranieri Foundation and the goddaughter of Ursula Corning, Civitella’s founder, is now Honorary Trustee. Dana, who served as Civitella’s executive director from 2007 to 2022 and did so much to shape the program as it exists today, is now Executive Director Emerita. Grazie mille, Helen and Dana, for your exceptional leadership over these many years.

A very special thank you, too, to Lee Walker and Jennifer Vickers, the owners of Castiglione Ugolino in Umbria, where they produce Ugolino Olio and since 2016 have donated the proceeds to organizations in the region dedicated to strengthening community. We are incredibly honored that they have chosen Civitella as their “giving back” partner in 2025. 

Un caro saluto from all of us at Civitella,

Heather Ewing
Executive Director
Civitella Ranieri Foundation