Benedetta Manfriani

Interdisciplinary artist & community resilience practitioner

Profile

Benedetta Manfriani is an interdisciplinary artist and community resilience practitioner based in Florence, Italy. Her work connects collective voice, participatory artistic practice and social cohesion.

Over the years, she has developed arts-based methodologies that strengthen individual agency and collective trust, especially in contexts marked by social or environmental vulnerability. Through vocal practice, listening and shared creative processes, she creates spaces where people can meet, express themselves and build relationships.

Rather than focusing only on performance, her approach moves toward relational and community-based processes. In this way, artistic practice becomes a tool for empowerment, mutual recognition and resilience. At the same time, her research bridges artistic creation, community work and international dialogue on sustainability and cultural participation.

Core Areas of Practice

Her practice brings together several interconnected fields. In particular, she works with:

• Arts-based community resilience methodologies
• Collective voice and participatory vocal facilitation
• Social cohesion and empowerment through sound
• Interdisciplinary artistic research (sound, video, installation)
• Ecological and socially engaged artistic practice
• Intercultural and inclusive vocal work

Together, these areas form the foundation of her long-term artistic research.

Community-Based Projects

CONfusion Intercultural Vocal Group – Florence (since 2016)

Since 2016, she has been the founder and director of CONfusion, an intercultural vocal ensemble connected to the Italian national network of intercultural choirs. Within this context, collective singing becomes a practice of dialogue and social cohesion. As a result, participants experience new forms of shared listening and cultural exchange.

Orkestra Rosa – Women’s Correctional Facility, Florence (2020, 2025)

In collaboration with Tempo Reale, the music research centre founded by Luciano Berio, she directed participatory vocal projects with incarcerated women.

These projects focused on empowerment, collective expression and trust-building within a correctional environment. Through shared singing and listening, participants were able to develop confidence and mutual support. Furthermore, the work created moments of connection that extended beyond the workshop setting.

Voice & Listening Workshop – Lyn’s House Community, Cambridge UK (2022)

This workshop involved mixed-ability participants, including academics and people with mental disabilities. Here, vocal exploration was used as a tool for inclusion and shared experience. As the sessions unfolded, participants engaged in embodied listening and collective sound exploration.

Public School Artistic Residencies – Florence

In addition, she has led funded artistic residencies in public schools. These projects introduced participatory voice and sound practices in educational contexts. Consequently, students explored creative empowerment, collaboration and new forms of expression.

Inclusive Voice & Movement Programme – MAD Murate Art District (ongoing)

Currently, she works as a teaching artist within an inclusive interdisciplinary programme at MAD Murate Art District. The programme brings together choreography, dance, voice and music.

It is designed specifically for participants with intellectual and/or visual disabilities. Therefore, particular attention is given to accessibility and individual needs. Through this work, participants experience inclusive participation, embodied expression and collective creation.

Artistic Research & Institutional Contexts

Alongside community-based work, her artistic research includes installations and performative projects combining voice, sound and visual media. These works have been presented internationally across Europe and the United States.

She collaborates with several institutions, including Tempo Reale, MAD Murate Art District and Catalyst Theatre Company. Moreover, she is currently in residence at MAD Murate Art District in Florence, where she continues to develop interdisciplinary research and participatory projects.

Education & Training

Her academic background includes studies in pedagogy and the care of vulnerability at the University of Florence and the Université Sorbonne in Paris.

At the same time, she pursued extensive vocal training with Faye Nepon, Paul Farrington, NicoNote and Monica Benvenuti. These experiences shaped her long-term exploration of voice as relational and artistic practice.

Languages

Italian (native)
English (fluent)
French (fluent)