In Viadana, within the Mantua district, the Saviola Art Factory project marks a new chapter in the relationship between industry, territory, and shared creativity. The initiative, the result of a collaboration between Gruppo Saviola and ASCOP – Azienda Speciale Consortile Oglio Po, is one of the first examples of participatory art developed as part of the “Un Ponte tra i Fiumi” program, co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus 2021–2027 and promoted by CSV Lombardia Sud ETS with the support of Fondazione Cariverona.
Between September and October 2025, dozens of company employees – together with their families, the young people of the Family Coaching Centre, and local youth – worked side by side to create a mural approximately 150 metres long, now visible inside the Saviola plant in Viadana. This collective artwork reflects shared values such as community, sustainability, and participation, transforming an industrial pathway into a narrative space.
The choice of materials reinforces the project’s responsible dimension: the mural was made possible thanks to water-based paints supplied by Saber, a local company committed to reducing the environmental impact of its products.
Curated by art educator Stefano Delvò of ForMattArt APS, the creative process offered young participants a unique opportunity to explore street-art techniques and to experience teamwork based on spontaneous collaboration. “Colours immediately become catalysts for people; they generate enthusiasm, new relationships, and a form of sharing that can overcome generational barriers,” Delvò explains.
For Gruppo Saviola, the project also represents a visual manifesto of its business philosophy: inclusive, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the local community. “We have transformed an industrial wall into a work of art that speaks of community and future,” states President Alessandro Saviola, highlighting the cultural and social value of the initiative.
ASCOP, the project’s strategic partner, underscores the role of generative welfare and the synergy between the third sector, institutions, and the productive world. According to Gloria Lodi Rizzini and Moreno Orlandelli, this collaborative model opens new perspectives for the active involvement of young people and the growth of an educating community.
CREDITS
Project: Saviola Art Factory
Location: Gruppo Saviola Plant – Viadana, Italy
Year: 2025
