Story

The Festival started in 1987 as a project of Stefano Bottoni, followed by a format (The Invitee/Accredited Formula, The Buskerhouse, The Buskergarden, initiatives of solidarity, competitions and others ) developed over the years by Luigi Russo, the Organisational Director.

It has been managed from the beginning by a small group made up of people linked by bonds of friendship and family, which includes as permanent members:  Enrichetta Ticchiati, Roberta Galeotti and Rebecca Bottoni (see Organisation).

It all started with the ambition to promote the importance of the street artist and make known to an ever increasing audience the beauty and charm of Ferrara.

In the course of the years, the festival has obtained unexpected results, becoming, with its 800,000 spectators, the greatest event of street artists in the world. At the same time, it gives a strong boost to the economy of the city, which is increasingly centred on cultural tourism. (Every year, about 1 spectator in 3 admits to have discovered Ferrara thanks to the Festival).

The event, by virtue of its success, has become a model to imitate, contributing in a decisive manner to creating a real sector(that of the Italian Art of the street)which now has more than 200 initiatives.

Since 2007 the Festival has brokered a relationship of close cooperation with Segesta, a leading communications and public relations firm, whose chairman, Paolo Bruschi, was also appointed Honorary President of the Ferrara Buskers Festival Association.

For more information, see the Data and Documents section.