From June 26 to 28, 2025, the city of Charlottetown played host to the Accenti Magazine International Festival of the Arts. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Prince Edward Island, AccentiFest 2025 brought together artists, writers, scholars and performers to celebrate Italian cultural heritage in the world.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, the second AccentiFest drew participants from across Canada, Italy and the United States. A broad range of disciplines were represented including literature, visual arts, translation, ethnography, history, performance and cultural studies. Sessions covered everything, from multilingualism, gender, family memory, diasporic identity and artistic improvisation. Thanks to a program with no concurrent sessions, every presentation benefitted from the attention of a full audience, fostering a sense of shared experience that was both intimate and inclusive.
The festival fostered an environment where artists and academics could share their work at any stage of development. Whether debuting new writing, revisiting past projects or experimenting with form, participants were met with openness and curiosity. True to Accenti’s mission, the atmosphere felt less like a conference and more like a living laboratory for creativity and inspiration.
Sessions explored a rich tapestry of themes, such as the deep pull of tradition, first languages and religion. Participants reflected on intergenerational conflict and collaboration, the weight of family expectations and the often-silenced experiences of aging and trauma. Presentations touched on the strength of female archetypes (especially la nonna), fragmentation of memory and resistance to erasure.
A particularly heartening aspect of this year’s festival was the participation by third-generation Canadians, intent on leveraging their passion for heritage into rigorous scholarship and novel artistic practices. Their participation was also a reminder of the time-sensitive nature of intergenerational diasporic dialogue.
The beauty of the setting added its own layer of meaning. The island-life charm of Charlottetown was an ideal match for AccentiFest 2025. Events were hosted across multiple venues, including the University of PEI campus, the Confederation Centre of the Arts and the Charlottetown Library. A visit to a local winery following a scenic coastal drive, brought participants together for a final moment of community.
More than a showcase of Italian and Italian-Canadian culture, AccentiFest 2025 affirmed the power of investigating, sharing and reimagining together. Organizers are looking forward to the third edition of AccentiFest in 2027. They are considering a number of locations in Italy, with Sicily at the top of the list.
Anna Romano Milne is a writer and community cultural leader. She lives in Ottawa.
