26/10/2025
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26/10/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 26: Over two days, Friday and Saturday (October 24 and 25, 2025), The Avenues Mall witnessed enchanting artistic performances by the Italian “Sbandieratori di Gubbio” (Gubbio's historic Flags-Wavers Group), as part of Italian Design Festival in Kuwait. Hundreds of visitors, citizens, and residents attended the performances, enjoying the authentic Italian atmosphere.
These performances were part of the Italian Design Festival, which kicked off on October 19 at the Avenues Mall and will continue until the 29th at the Contemporary Art Platfom (CAP). The festival celebrates Italian creativity in the fields of design, art, fashion and music, in an atmosphere that blends high culture and public entertainment.
The Italian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lorenzo Morini, said in a press statement on the occasion:
"We are delighted to see the great enthusiasm shown by the Kuwaiti public for Italian culture. The Italian Design Festival is not just a showcase of beauty and creativity, but rather a bridge of cultural dialogue between Italy and Kuwait, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations and the historical friendship that unites the two countries."
Ambassador Morini added: "Sbandieratori di Gubbio” embodies a distinctive aspect of the ancient Italian heritage and folklore. The tradition of the flags-wavers group dates back centuries and is a symbol of pride, skill, and belonging. It is wonderful to share this cultural heritage with the dear Kuwaiti public."
The Ambassador also noted that the Italian Design Festival in Kuwait aims to highlight Italian creativity in various fields, from industrial and architectural design to traditional arts, saying: "We are proud to present in Kuwait a diverse program that celebrates the Italian spirit of innovation, which combines traditions and renewal. Through these events, we seek to promote cultural dialogue and artistic exchange between our two countries.".
The performances by the" Sbandieratori di Gubbio" Group were met with widespread interaction from the audience, who enjoyed the harmonious movements of the historical flags, accompanied by traditional rhythmic music played with drums and trumpets. This colorful, energetic, and joyful scene brought the scent of Italian history and folklore to the heart of Kuwait.
The shows concluded amidst a festive atmosphere, confirming the success of Italian Design Festival in bringing the public together around Italian culture, art & design and fostering a spirit of cultural dialogue between Italy and Kuwait.
The Gubbio Flag-Wavers Group was founded in 1969 within the Gubbio Crossbowmen's Society, with the aim of preserving and revitalizing the centuries-old tradition of the Palio della Balestra (crossbow palio), which takes place in Gubbio on the last Sunday of May and in Sansepolcro on the second Sunday of September. The Flag-Wavers aim to perpetuate the centuries-old flag-waving game and the ethical message it embodies, including through youth education programs such as introductory courses, advanced training, and professional development courses on folklore, art, history, traditions, and sports. Throughout their career, the Gubbio Flag-Wavers have performed at over 2,500 events, waving flags across all five continents and participating in sporting, cultural, military and religious events.
History and art have always been part of the lives of us flag-wavers, thanks to a quest for the colors of our flags and our costumes. In this sense, we have always sought to conceive of our folklore as a way of creating culture, culture as an aesthetic pursuit, culture as a sense of belonging to our land. This message is contained in the flags, which represent stylistic elements of the Eugubine Tablets, seven bronze tablets discovered in the 15th century in the territory of ancient Ikuvium (Gubbio), on which is inscribed a text in Umbrian, the longest and most important ritual text of ancient Italy. Added to these are other flags representing the symbols of the city of Pietra: the bell tower, illustrations by Federico da Montefeltro, the Neighborhoods, and finally the “Festa dei Ceri”. The flags were created by master Oscar Piattella.
Without the City of Gubbio behind them, with its energy and caliber, the Sbandieratori (Flag–Wavers) would not exist, they would simply be jugglers. This is the key. And this explains their connection to the art world, with which they have engaged for over half a century, reaching daring heights. From artist portfolios to publications, the Group weaves networks of friendships, encounters, and connections, even very strong ones, with protagonists of contemporary art, all amazed by their genuine ability to combine folklore and culture, art and flags. All these relationships continue to bear fruit, energy and a desire to push the City forward, to channel or attract to it, as an ideal and perfect container for the purpose, the finest sensibilities, and to generate visionary skills. This is why we chose to title our collections "bandierarte".
Indeed, the Group's philosophy has always been based on the desire to combine flag-waving with other cultural activities and initiatives, so that the flag has become a lever for other values and a generator of far greater potential for achieving results for the City. This brilliant intuition has been the Group's strength and has ennobled the city's folklore. A concept that should be replicated at various levels and has proven successful.
Flag, Colors, Wind, Beauty, Art, Memory, and Love for the City are the guiding principles that still today drive the Bandieranti of Gubbio.
