The Fondazione Amleto Bertoni, who organises the Antiques Art and Trade Exhibition of Saluzzo, has been established by Saluzzo Municipality in 1999 to produce activities and demonstrations especially dedicated to handicraft art and antique trade.
The Fondazione takes inspiration from the moral heritage coming from a renowned Saluzzo citizen, whose town of origin was Faenza and whose work left a mark in the town’s culture and society: Amleto Bertoni.
In the 20s Bertoni moved in Saluzzo where he gave up the father’s work as a tailor to follow his calling: antique trade, where he applied an original production philosophy.
What makes indissoluble the link between Amleto Bertoni and Saluzzo was his skill in training a generation of craftsmen: from Gianotti foundling hospital poor young men were sent to his joiner’s shop to learn the job. Many of them, once they were grown up, became part of the shop’s staff, the others worked by their own, both helping in spreading the handicraft culture in Saluzzo.
The Fondazione Bertoni, from three years directed by Piero Sassone, is working hard to spread all over the world the “Saluzzo trademark” and to make the town more attractive both for its citizens and the tourists. The many activities during the last years made the Fondazione an important landmark for the promotion of the Saluzzo culture and economy.
The Mostra D’Antiquariato and the Mostra dell’Artigianato of Saluzzo are the two main appointments that, after many vicissitudes, won back their right place in the national and international overview.
The Fondazione Bertoni engagement never stops: its activities program takes into consideration people requirements and the other production and culture activities. Therefore besides the “Premio Bodoni”, dedicated to the Saluzzo graphic who created a special style, that every year is given to communication’s protagonists, Fondazione Bertoni events consider also: Saluzzo Arte, a show dedicated to contemporary art, the “Matteo Olivero” award given to young talents in graphics, sculpture, engraving and design; furthermore: the lively Saluzzo Carnival parade until the most recent event, that is “Vivere la città”: a month of September rich on events for all tastes and ages to attract citizens and tourists to discover Saluzzo town centre.