About

VISUAL ARTIVIST – CREATIVE ARTS FACILITATOR – REIKI MASTER

Francesca Citarella (CISKA) is a multidisciplinary Italian Artivist, Creative Arts Facilitator and Reiki Master based in Bristol. She graduated in Literature and Theatre Studies and in Performing Art and has attended different stages and masters in dance theatre, CI, creative movement, and art therapy. Her works allow her to constantly explore the human world and her way of looking at things: a bridge between Soul and Matter. She is in constant research of ways to act and react to the current pressing socio-political issues. Francesca’s core values are displayed in her work: Earth’s Wellbeing, Philanthropic Heart, Spiritual Art.

Since 2012 she has been working professionally, performing and acting in different scenarios, facilitating in schools and public and private organisations, directing performances for herself and others, collaborating with Notterante Teatro as an actress and Co-director and taking part in personal and collective art exhibitions worldwide and online.
Some performance/show titles: “Teatro Parola Peste” (2012,2013), “In cerca d’Auttore” (2013), “Corti d’Auttore” (2014), “Finché Morte non ci separi”, “EtiVite”, “Terra di Nessuno”, “Love Motel (2015), “Occhi Blu”, “Quartett” (2016), “Bari Nostra” (2017).
Noteworthy is her participation:
– in the film “L’amour ne pardonne pas” by Stefano Consiglio (Babe Film, BìBì Film, Rai Cinema – Italy, France, 2014) and in the series “Braccialetti Rossi” by Giacomo Campiotti (Palomar Television, Italy, 2014);
– as an art facilitator on designing and making the mosaic with children of St. Barnabas Primary School as part of a project coordinated by the Artist Barbara Disney. (The mosaic has been installed in a new courtyard area behind Ashley Court, Sussex Place in St Pauls, Bristol, UK) (2019);
– as an artist in the project “We all come from somewhere”: a series of participatory events exploring the importance of human movement around the world, coordinated by ARTEMOTION (2019);
– as a volunteer in the project “Art of Inclusion“, coordinated by Artspace Lifespace and the Invisible Circus (2019);
– as a performer, in “HABITAT” by Doris Ulrich (Mayfest, 2022) and “Our Skin” by Yael Karavan and Rita Vilhena (2022).

In the last 10 years, she approached the world of art therapy and Reiki Usui and ran her own signature “Painting Theatre Lab” workshop: a fusion of theatrical exercises, art therapy techniques, and dynamic meditation, all culminating in emotional painting.

Recently (Aug-Sept 2023), she took part in the “Newtown Brick Project” as one of the Community Ambassadors and Facilitators, directed by Brick Project in partnership with Trinity Community Arts and Newtown Network. Brick Project has co-designed a proposal to develop a mural consisting of literally thousands of individual paintings on a brick wall on the estate and she was honored to assist members of the community to amplify their voices in an inclusive and accessible artwork that they were in charge of.

Since September 2021, she has been an artist in residence within Bedminster’s area, in East St Emporium: a space of independent makers and artists drawn together by a shared penchant for earth-happy creations, and runs her @ciska_art_and_therapy eco-art brand.
Currently, she also:
– collaborate as Reiki Master Practitioner at Wellspring Settlement, as part of the Complementary Health Low-Cost Clinic sector;
– is a member of the Rebel Girls Club, a collective of women that aims to uplift, inspire and empower people of all genders and provide courses, drop-ins and events.

Her ambitions are to plant the seeds of kindness into this world and contribute to the improvement of people’s well-being through art and personal growth tools.