"Merak" (Cyrillic: мерак) captures a profound sense of joy—a deep aesthetic pleasure and the ability to savor life’s simple moments, a feeling of delight or euphoria born from a love of life itself and its little joys.

association Mérak m.a.l.l. APS seeks to create an open space where everyone can express their creativity, explore the rich diversity of art and culture, and find a place to freely share their music, art, and ideas.

Chi siamo

About Us

MÉRAK M.A.L.L. APS was born from the vision of three artists – Francesca, Fabiano, and Alessia – who wanted to create a space of creativity, free artistic expression, and cultural growth. After many years of living and working abroad, they decided to return and build this project in the beautiful lands between Acquaformosa and Castrovillari, bringing back their experiences and opening the doors to new exchanges with people from outside as well.

The association’s mission is to give value to our territory – its people, its traditions, and its local resources – while providing a cultural hub where anyone can express themselves through music and the arts. Through workshops, labs, and creative projects accessible to all, MÉRAK hopes to inspire growth and connection, and to help people imagine a future where they can remain – or return – to Calabria, finding opportunities here while enriching its artistic and cultural life.

Francesca Manoccio

President/legal representative

Francesca is a violist, singer, and composer active in italy and abroad. Alongside her performing career, she is deeply committed to teaching, inspiring a passion for music in the next generation . She also contributes to research and cultural projects dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the rich musical heritage of the Arbëreshë community.

Fabiano Perrupato

Vice president

Fabiano is a music producer and multi-instrumentalist active in Italy’s indie and alternative scene. Alongside his teaching of electric bass, he passionately explores sound design and studio experimentation, inspiring creativity and innovation in his students. He also performs as a bassist in several bands and, together with Francesca, co-founded the band ODDyssey.

Alessia Cortese

Secretary

Alessia is a fine art photographer

and art writer. She works as an editor and editorial curator for an independent publishing house (Mauvais Livres) and

contributes essays on contemporary art to an online magazine (Objectmag.it). Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions in Genova, Rome, Milan, Paris, London, and New York.

Ancora 1

Music Classes

Viola&violin

ensemble music/band

electric bass

songwriter

piano

Studio

Work in progress

Coming soon: our brand-new recording studio! Designed for artists, producers, and creators of all kinds, the studio offers high-quality equipment, professional acoustics, and a creative space where your music can truly come to life. Stay tuned and get ready to make your sound heard!