Is This the Start of Something New? Artist in Residence at Fritto Misto Comune…

There are certain people you just don’t say no to.

Six months ago, a great friend from Australia’s Northern Territory called. Someone who’s been a huge part of my life for years, and who also genuinely loves Australian artists, especially the ones just starting to find their feet.

He asked me a simple question.

"Would you be interested in hosting a young artist while he travels through Europe this summer?"

I didn’t even hesitate.

Absolutely.

A few months later, a tall, strapping young man stepped off the train in Fabriano wearing what you could only call the unofficial Northern Territory uniform—an Indigenous print shirt, ridiculously short shorts, a giant floppy hat, and a pair of well-worn thongs.

Caleb Dude had arrived.

At the time, we didn’t really think of Fritto Misto Comune as an “artist residency.”

Honestly, it was just somewhere to stay.

Or more accurately… somewhere to live for me:)

Two days into Caleb’s visit, I had to head off to Sardinia, and left him to settle into Fritto Misto Comune properly for the week. Looking back, I think that timing ended up being one of the best parts of the whole experience. It gave him the space to really make the house his own—wander the streets, go to the market, cook in the kitchen, meet up with local artists he managed to meet with days before, create when the inspiration hit—and experience Fabriano as someone living here, not as a tourist ticking boxes.

That’s what we’ve always hoped would happen.

Now, back on the Euro adventure, we sent him a few questions about his time in Fabriano. His answers summed up exactly what we think slow travel—and maybe creativity in general—is really about.

How did your time in Fabriano influence your work?

"Being in Fabriano, the birthplace of factory paper production in Europe, influenced my work in a way that led me to experiment with new mediums. I had never really worked properly on paper before, so it was a pleasure to really experiment with watercolour as a medium."

What was your favourite part of staying at Fritto Misto Comune?

"Fritto Misto Comune really allowed me to take it slow, enjoy some quality food and be inspired by a new environment."

Did creating your work in Fabriano change the way you thought about the town or your own creative practice?

"Staying in Fabriano really made me rethink tourism and arts practices. Fabriano is a beautiful hidden gem compared to some similarly sized towns that are impacted by over-tourism. I couldn't think of a better way to see a country than going to a less visited town, feeling special and essentially being the only tourist. It really is an incredible experience."

Was there another experience that stayed with you?

"It was a pleasure to go to Florence for a couple of days and be inspired by some of the collections containing work from the masters."

Reading Caleb’s reflections made us realise we might’ve stumbled onto something we’ve been talking about for a long time.

Fritto Misto Comune has always been more than accommodation.

It’s about making it possible to experience Fabriano differently. To have enough time here to know the baker’s or staff at the gelateria’s names (in Caleb’s case:). To go to the market. To find the paper mill, museums, and galleries. To cook with local produce. To walk along the river or sit in the backyard and read. To meet artists.

And then there’s the From Fabriano, With Love postcard project, which reminded us just how much creativity is already here. Six local artists, one local printer, traditional Fabriano paper, and a community willing to come together around a shared idea. It showed us (again) that creativity grows when people are given the space to connect.

Maybe this is just the next step.

Part artist residency.

Part slow travel.

Part creative exchange.

Part home.

Fabriano is a UNESCO Creative City with centuries of paper-making history, amazing museums, incredible food, beautiful landscapes, and a creative community that’s really doing things. It feels like the perfect place for artists, writers, photographers, designers, chefs, makers—or honestly, anyone curious—to spend time, slow down, and get inspired.

So here’s our question.

If Fritto Misto Comune offered creative residencies, workshops, or longer stays for artists and creatives from around the world—would you be interested?

We’d genuinely love to hear what you think.

Because, as it turns out, every good idea we’ve had at Fritto Misto Comune has started with a conversation.