Association of Free Engravers

Associazione Liberi Incisori (ALI), rendered in English as the Association of Free Engravers, is an Italian non-profit cultural association dedicated to the promotion, protection and appreciation of original printmaking. Its stated mission is to bring original engraving to specialists, amateurs and simply curious audiences, with the aim of turning them into enthusiasts. The association is based in Bologna and draws its members from across Italy. The working core of ALI is a group of around 50 artist members who are professionals in intaglio (calcographic) and woodcut (xylographic) engraving. These artists contribute through their own activity to the organisation of exhibitions, conferences and thematic publications, which are open to collaboration with critics and literary figures. The association also relies on supporting members (Soci Sostenitori), whose contributions are described as the lifeblood that makes its activities possible. ALI regularly proposes working themes to its members in order to stimulate their imagination and to present new works to the public. Its publishing activity is anchored by an annual volume, the Annuario, which gathers critical writing and reproductions of members' works. The 2025 edition, titled "Brescello perla del Po", is a 325-page colour book containing works exhibited in Brescello, with contributions including a critical assessment by critic Nicola Micieli and presentations by Marzio Dall'Acqua and Marco Fiori. The volume was presented on 18 October in the Sala Prampolini, and a virtual exhibition of the exhibited works was also produced. Governance is exercised through an annual members' assembly; the 2025 assembly was held remotely by videoconference on 3 December 2025, with a report from the President. The association maintains a website with sections on its identity, social acts and press review, and communicates with members and friends through greetings cards and seasonal messages. As a membership-based cultural body rather than a commercial manufacturer, ALI operates in the art and printmaking ecosystem: it organises exhibitions, publishes catalogues and yearbooks, and connects engravers with critics, collectors and the wider public. Its identity is tied to the tradition of original printmaking in Italy, and its activities are concentrated in Italy, with exhibitions and presentations held in Italian towns such as Brescello and Pisa.

Associazione Liberi Incisori (ALI) is an Italian cultural association formed around the practice and promotion of original printmaking. According to its own presentation, it is a non-profit cultural association committed to spreading, promoting, protecting and enhancing original engraving among specialists, amateurs and simply curious audiences, with the intention of turning them into enthusiasts. Its seat is in Bologna, and it gathers engravers from all over Italy who contribute, each according to their own abilities, to a varied expressive world. The association's active core consists of about 50 artist members who are professionals of calcographic (intaglio) and xylographic (woodcut) engraving. Through their work they support the organisation of exhibitions, conferences and specific thematic publications, which are open to collaboration with critics and literary figures. Supporting members (Soci Sostenitori) provide the financial contribution that the association describes as its lifeblood. ALI's programme includes proposing working themes to its members in order to stimulate their imagination and to offer the public new works. This thematic approach is visible in its publishing output, above all the annual Annuario, which combines critical essays, articles and reproductions of members' works. The 2025 Annuario, titled 'Brescello perla del Po', is a 325-page colour volume gathering 88 works by ALI artists presented at an exhibition in the Sala Prampolini in Brescello. It includes a dense critical assessment by the critic Nicola Micieli and presentations by Marzio Dall'Acqua and Marco Fiori, and it was presented on 18 October before a large and attentive audience. The first 90 copies, destined for supporting members, included an original work by Roberta Pancera. A virtual exhibition of the works shown in Brescello was also created, and a virtual exhibition for Pisa is listed among the association's recent activities. Governance is conducted through an annual assembly of members. The 2025 assembly was held remotely on 3 December 2025 via a videoconference application, and the President's report ('Relazione Assemblea dei soci 2025') was published on the association's website. The site also carries sections on the association's identity ('Chi siamo'), its social acts ('Atti sociali') and a press review ('Rassegna stampa'), and it maintains contact with members and friends through seasonal greetings and cards. ALI therefore functions as a membership-based cultural institution within the Italian printmaking scene: it does not manufacture products for retail sale but instead organises exhibitions, publishes catalogues and yearbooks, and connects engravers with critics, collectors and the public. Its activities are concentrated in Italy, with exhibitions and presentations documented in places such as Brescello and Pisa.

• Presentation of Annuario ALI 2025 'Brescello perla del Po' in the Sala Prampolini, Brescello.

• Annual members' assembly held remotely by videoconference; President's report published.

A non-profit cultural association of professional Italian engravers promoting original printmaking to specialists, amateurs and the curious public.

• Annuario ALI 2025 – Brescello perla del Po

  325-page colour yearbook with 88 works by ALI artists exhibited in Brescello, critical texts and articles.

• Original intaglio and woodcut prints by members

  Works produced by the association's approximately 50 artist members.

• Virtual exhibitions

  Online presentations of exhibited works, including for Brescello and Pisa.

1. 1Alincisori - Homealincisori.altervista.org
2. 2Alincisori - Chi siamoalincisori.altervista.org
3. 3Alincisori - Atti socialialincisori.altervista.org
4. 4Alincisori - Rassegna stampaalincisori.altervista.org
5. 5Associazione Liberi Incisori - Wikidatawikidata.org