The journey of bringing this book to life has been made possible by many friends’ collective efforts, passion, and encouragement. I am deeply grateful for the support and inspiration of those who have walked with me on this path.
To all ATIR’s members and supporters who shared their time, knowledge and passion, thank you for your generosity and insights. Your experiences and perspectives have enriched the heart of this book, and your contributions have shaped every chapter of this work. A thought goes to our bellowed friend Fabio Chiesa, who is not here in the flesh but keeps inspiring and encouraging us on our path.
A special thanks to Tatiana Chemi and Anu M. Mitra, editors of the “Arts, Creativities, and Learning Environments in Global Perspectives” series. I want to thank you for immediately believing in the project and supporting it. I am also grateful to John Bennett and all his collaborators at Brill, whose keen eye and guidance helped shape this manuscript into its final form.
A special acknowledgement is due to Fraser King, whose meticulous attention and linguistic expertise helped bring clarity and precision to the text. Your insightful revisions strengthened my writing and allowed my ideas to be expressed with greater fluency. Finally, I thank my academic partner, Laura Lucia Parolin. This book’s ideas arose from our joint research between Social Sciences and Art and our long conversations.