by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: Giorgio Rossi, councilor for culture and tourism; Stefano Frosi, founder of Open Stage
Trieste introduced a new tool on Monday aimed at reshaping the way street performance is managed and experienced in the city. The platform, called Openstage, allows musicians, artists and audiences to connect through a digital system that organizes and promotes live performances in public spaces.
The project was presented at Palazzo Gopcevich by Giorgio Rossi, the city’s councillor for culture and tourism, alongside municipal event coordinator Simona Barbetti and Stefano Frosi, one of Openstage’s creators. Several local street performers also attended.
Officials described the platform as a “digital restyling” designed to bring more order and visibility to street arts. Developed with input from Trieste’s Street Artists Committee and the city’s tourism and cultural services, the system seeks to make public performances easier to follow for both residents and visitors.
Trieste, which has seen a significant increase in tourism in recent years, has integrated street art into its cultural identity, officials said. “Street artists are the heartbeat of the city,” Mr. Rossi noted, adding that the platform is intended to give performers a modern tool while offering audiences a straightforward way to discover events.
Among its features, Openstage provides:
- A multilingual interface for international artists and visitors.
- Personalized artist profiles with links to social media.
- Real-time updates for registered users on scheduled performances.
- A mobile app for iOS and Android as well as web access.
- Geolocation and push notifications to track venues and schedule changes.
- Administrative tools for municipal offices to monitor and manage activities.
The service, founded in Milan in 2021 by Mr. Frosi and Ugo Vivone, is already in use in several Italian cities, as well as Madrid and Lisbon. Its introduction in Trieste is seen as part of the city’s broader push to position itself as a hub for culture and tourism.
Residents and visitors can access the platform by downloading the app and registering. Additional information is available on the City of Trieste’s official website under the section “Artisti di strada – Come esibirsi.”
