Answers provided by: Peter Schorn, actor and president of PERFAS (Instagram: @peter.schorn) and Greta Marcolongo, singer/musician and board member of PERFAS (Instagram: @greta_marcolongo)
1) When and how was PERFAS founded?
The PERFAS association (Performing Artists Association South Tyrol) was founded on February 1, 2020, in Bolzano to unite and represent entertainment industry workers (all creative professionals onstage and behind the scenes) in South Tyrol.While other artistic disciplines, such as writers, visual artists, and filmmakers, had had their own professional associations in South Tyrol for many years, there was no representation for entertainment industry workers.
2) Why the name “PERFAS”?
The artistic and cultural landscape in South Tyrol has always been multilingual. The South Tyrolean society consists of over 144 cultural and linguistic communities. Most artists are native German and Italian speakers, working professionally in both the German-speaking market (Austria, Germany, Switzerland) and the Italian national market. We chose the acronym PERFAS (from English: “Performing Artists Association South Tyrol”) to recognize this diversity and cultural richness and align ourselves with the professional associations already in place.
3) What is the main activity?
When the Covid-19 pandemic crisis hit the independent entertainment scene in South Tyrol, an initiative group proposed founding a professional association for entertainment workers, primarily to represent their interests in discussions with provincial politics. Since the Autonomous Province of Bolzano has its own legislative competence and significant authority in cultural policy, establishing an institutional dialogue between cultural operators and policymakers at the provincial level with democratic legitimacy became a clear necessity. PERFAS works at the provincial level – at the geographic intersection of the German- and Italian-speaking cultural areas and their respective markets – to develop fair wage plans, break down linguistic and cultural barriers, and improve social security and working conditions for local artists. Additionally, we provide important information to our members and facilitate connections between them to build a strong and supportive community.
4) Why is important to join PERFAS?
Our members often talk about a new and valuable feeling: not being alone and having to fight only for themselves, but experiencing the emotional support of a publicly visible, supportive community. We see this sense of solidarity as a core part of our work, beyond the tangible benefits we provide, like information services. This shared strength also becomes a direct resource for artistic creation. At the same time, it’s crucial to actively preserve these values: together, we want to ensure that the principles of partnership and solidarity continue to have influence even after the pandemic fades. Supporting PERFAS as a professional association also means supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, promoting “strong institutions” for a vibrant and resilient democracy. Moreover, we firmly believe in the need for a powerful lobby that works for the visibility and interests of performing artists. In just one year, we gained over 280 members. The more we grow, the stronger our collective voice becomes in the media and in political discussions.
5) What is your vision for the future activity?
We see the institutionalization of our sector as an essential step in its ongoing professionalization. We believe that the performing arts are vital to society, enhancing its capacity for innovation and resilience to address the significant human task of sustainable transformation that lies ahead. Concretely, we aim to launch an extensive dialogue with politics and various cultural institutions to tackle the long-standing issues affecting working conditions in the entertainment industry at the provincial level, bringing all stakeholders together to find solutions collaboratively. This process should not have an expiration date but should instead establish new long-term communication structures.
6) What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of live entertainment in Italy?
We recognize that the situation for the performing arts in many Italian regions is far more critical than in South Tyrol. We hope to foster a collective awareness that live culture is not only important entertainment but also the lifeblood of an open, diverse, and resilient democratic society, without which we cannot face future challenges.
7) What role can UNISCA play?
Building and nurturing a strong, clear, and united national voice will be essential for the cultural and artistic future of our country. The diversity and freedom of art, entertainment, and music, especially the small structures and countless individual artistic realities form the foundation of Italy’s cultural life. All these professionals work tirelessly to make their indispensable contributions to society and need a capable spokesperson and much greater visibility to thrive.
