Bagheria has a strong and proud presence in the major national campaign launched today by Amnesty International to mark its 65th anniversary (1961-2026). During the official press conference held this morning in Palermo at the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate in the Steri Monumental Complex, the initiative “Beyond the Abyss: the Protection of Rights is the World’s Only Hygiene” was presented. The initiative, centered on the talent and generosity of Bagheria-born artist Arrigo Musti, is titled “Passepartout for Freedom,” as the artist himself explained. Musti’s work, entitled “Passepartout for Freedom,” offers a powerful and conscious reversal of F.T. Marinetti’s famous 1909 Futurist motto: where war was glorified as “the world’s only hygiene,” Musti’s canvas elevates the protection of human rights to the sole and essential condition of civilization. In a gesture of solidarity, the artist donated the original work and all the rights to its economic exploitation to the Amnesty International Italy Foundation, enabling the value of art to be transformed into concrete support for the organization’s research and advocacy activities.
Representing the Bagheria Municipal Administration was Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Culture, Daniele Vella, who expressed the community’s profound pride: “Arrigo Musti’s donation to Amnesty International demonstrates, once again, how Bagheria’s artistic tradition can serve as a moral avant-garde and a vehicle for universal messages. Seeing the art of our region embrace such a noble cause on such an important anniversary fills us with pride. The entire municipal administration extends Arrigo’s heartfelt congratulations for the value of his work and the extraordinary generosity of his gesture.”

Bagheria Mayor Filippo Maria Tripoli added: “Today, Bagheria celebrates not only the artistic genius of one of its fellow citizens, but also his humanity. Arrigo Musti’s gesture demonstrates how culture can and must be an active instrument of freedom and civilization on an international level.”

Bagheria’s presence at the event didn’t end on canvas. Documenting the morning and immortalizing Musti’s work was another excellent Bagheria professional, photographer Francesco Domilici, whose keen eye captured the visual power and emotion of this event.
The work, a canvas on aluminum, will remain on display in the Sala delle Armi of the Steri Museum until October 30th. Through the silhouette of a lock, it depicts the historic Amnesty candle that has burned for 65 years, intent on untying the rope that binds the hands of the “forgotten prisoners,” transforming the darkness into a blue of hope. The Foundation’s President, Roberto Zampardi, announced that 100 numbered silkscreen prints of the work, printed on fine Favini Dolce Vita paper and hand-touched by Musti with acrylic paints, will be made available to the public. They will be available for purchase from June on the official website www.fondazioneamnesty.it, along with the commemorative poster.
The initiative is promoted by the Amnesty International Italy Foundation in collaboration with the University of Palermo, the University Museum System (UniPa Heritage), and Coopculture.