NABA – the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti – has been shaping Italy's creative talent since 1980, first in Milan, then Rome. Now it has arrived at Here East in London, and the choice of location is anything but accidental. For Diego Mattiolo, Head of Education at NABA, London's density of cultures, institutions and creative energy made it the only logical first step for the school's international expansion.
Georgina Godwin speaks with Diego about what the great creative cities of the world actually have in common – and what they risk losing. He reflects on growing up in Milan surrounded by design weeks and fashion shows, taking it all for granted until distance gave him perspective, and on what NABA's particular philosophy – that combination of rigorous thinking and hands-on making – produces in students that more conventional institutions do not. The goal, he explains, is not to teach students what to think, but to help them find their voice.
The conversation ranges from the deep cultural roots of Italian style to the question of whether cities like Milan and London are in danger of becoming victims of their own polish – and why Diego thinks the next genuinely surprising creative hub is more likely to be found in Tokyo, Singapore or India.
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