University of Siena and Fenysia Association Launch “Reading and Writing as Well-being” Workshop
The University of Siena, in collaboration with the Fenysia Association, is set to launch a free workshop titled “Reading and Writing as Well-being” on March 3, 2026. The initiative, which received support from the Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena, aims to explore the benefits of reading and writing for personal well-being, expressive skills, and relationship building.
Workshop Details
The workshop, designed to follow the principles of social prescribing of arts and cultural activities as recommended by the World Health Organization, will run from March 3rd to June 4th, 2026, with both in-person and online sessions available. A second session is planned from September 9th to October 15th, 2026. Priority will be given to students from the University of Siena and other Tuscan universities. There are 30 places available.
Expert Instruction
The course will be led by a team of experienced educators and literary figures, including:
- Pierpaolo Orlando, President and Artistic Director of Fenysia
- Stefano Dal Bianco, Professor of Italian Literature and Poetics at the University of Siena
- Alessandro Fo, Senior Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of Siena
- Alberto Cristofori
- Marcello Fois
- Nicola Gardini
- Ilaria Gaspari
- Claudio Lagomarsini
- Nadia Terranova
Focus on Well-being
Chiara Mocenni, Unisi delegate to the Third Mission, emphasized the workshop’s goal to encourage participants to reflect on the concept of well-being through the analysis and creation of texts, exploring emotions, experiences, and ideas. Roberta Mucciarelli, Unisi Delegate to Libraries, added that the results of the workshop will be compiled into an anthology, offering participants a tangible representation of their journey.
Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena Support
The Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena played a key role in supporting the initiative, as it was the winner of the “Vie d’uscita culturali 2025” call for proposals, promoted by the Foundation itself in collaboration with the University of Siena. Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena was established on August 28, 1995, and aims to promote the socio-economic development of the region and community through cultural welfare initiatives. More information about the workshop can be found on the University of Siena’s website.