About us
OnStage APS — a social promotion association based in Botrugno (LE), active in urban culture, theatre, training and the fight against bullying in Salento.
Our mission
OnStage APS is a social promotion association established under the Third Sector Code (D.Lgs. 117/2017), based in Botrugno (LE) and operating in the province of Lecce. It is non-partisan and non-denominational, and bases its activity on the constitutional principles of democracy, social participation and volunteering.
Non-profit, it pursues civic, solidarity-based and socially useful purposes for the benefit of its members, their families and the community: from cultural promotion to the culture of legality, from combating bullying and educational poverty to the redevelopment of public assets and assets confiscated from organized crime.
Every project stems from the belief that culture — when it is truly accessible — becomes a tool for emancipation, inclusion and growth for the regions of Southern Italy.
Bylaws · Art. 3, para. 4
Our values
- Empowering peopleWe put people's personal abilities at the center, so that every story can flourish.
- Accessible cultureWe promote art, education and recreational activities as a common good, breaking down economic and geographic barriers.
- Legality and nonviolenceWe spread the culture of legality and peace among peoples, and oppose mafias, illegality and all forms of violence.
- Combating educational povertyWe fight school dropout, bullying and cyberbullying with extracurricular educational programs.
- Local heritageWe promote Salento's cultural and traditional heritage, both tangible and intangible, and protect the environment.
- Volunteering and democracyWe operate as a non-partisan and non-denominational association, respecting the principles of participation and equal opportunity.
Our areas of action
OnStage APS's activities cover the areas of general interest defined by the Third Sector Code.
Cultural events
Festivals, showcases, concerts, music contests, exhibitions, screenings, debates and theatrical performances.
Urban regeneration
Initiatives on unused public assets and assets confiscated from organized crime, street art and place regeneration.
Environmental protection
Planting trees and native crops, waste collection drives, landscape conservation and climate change action.
Sport and movement
Organization and management of amateur sports activities open to the whole community.
Our story
It all began with a group of friends united by a passion for theatre and music, who used to meet in the alleys of Botrugno to imagine something different: a space where art was not entertainment, but a genuine encounter between people.
Over the years we have grown, building relationships with artists, schools, cultural institutions and local municipalities. Every edition of our festivals has left a mark, a memory, a human connection that goes beyond the duration of the show.
Today, OnStage APS is a well-established organization, recognized in the cultural landscape of southern Salento, with a competent and passionate board, invaluable volunteers and a community of members who believe in the power of the performing arts.
Botrugno is not just the place where we were born: it is the starting point of a journey that looks at Salento and the world with ever-open eyes.
Our territory
Botrugno is a small municipality in the province of Lecce, nestled in the Salento countryside just a few kilometers from the sea. A place where time seems to flow more slowly, but where cultural life is lively and deeply rooted.
Salento — land of taranta, Lecce baroque, centuries-old olive trees and sunsets over the sea — is our natural stage. Its squares, farmhouses, castles and historic theatres are the perfect backdrop for our productions.
We believe in community closeness: building culture locally is both a political and a poetic act.