OLIVEARTE is a cultural agency offering consultancy and training to culture centres. It's founding members and directors are Paul Bogen and Sandy Fitzgerald, both active in the cultural and artistic field since 30 years.

This Saturday we celebrate the agency's birth with a new collaboration between OLIVEARTE and OZU, the exporting of Sabina's high quality, organic, extra virgin olive oil. A percentage of the oil's selling will be dedicated to artistic activity involving young artists. The supported activity in the first year will be our residency programme TAOH.

OLIVEARTE is a new cultural agency working in the space between dreams and action.
Our name, OLIVEARTE, is drawn from the culturally symbolic nature of olive oil, and the merging of one of the oldest and most important living artifacts known to humankind with creativity, the oil that has fueled our most civilizing developments.
We, the founders of OLIVEARTE, have over sixty years’ experience between us in establishing, managing and leading arts organisations and projects and we know firsthand how hard it can sometimes seem to be to turn your dreams and ideas into reality.
With OLIVEARTE it is our goal to bridge that gap and to give something of our experience back to a field of work that we feel passionately about. Yes, we want to earn a living doing what we love, but we also think that we can offer value for money, a genuine commitment and a practical and comprehensive knowledge of the cultural field.
OLIVEARTE offers a range of services to potential clients, including: consultancy; training; strategic planning; organisational development; research; feasibility studies and evaluations. If you have an interest in our services we would be happy to speak with you over some bread, olives and, of course, VACUNA olive oil. We can be contacted at www.olivearte.com

Paul Bogen and Sandy Fitzgerald
(Olivearte Directors)

The collaboration between OZU and OLIVEARTE began naturally and spontaneously in 2008, based on shared ideals and objectives; supporting artists, culture, traditions and the region. The olive trees are the symbol of this area, the life and labour of entire generations, reaching back to the ancient Romans (if not further). Today, radical changes in contemporary lifestyles jeopardize a tradition that is perhaps more important than just the production of an excellent olive oil. To sustain the small local economies, to prevent the abandonment of the olive groves, the death of thousands of olive trees and the ravishment of the territory is an important part of our purpose in this beautiful adventure.

VACUNA extra virgin olive oil
Following a tradition as old as the region itself, VACUNA oil is uniquely produced from the first cold pressing of the Alta Sabina olives. The olive trees of the area grow at a height of 400 to 700 metres and are exclusively biological. The fresh microclimate keeps away parasitic organisms, in particular the olive fly, which cannot breed at this altitude. This enables cultivation without pesticides or herbicides. The Olives are hand picked at the moment they mature, without waiting for them to fall from the trees. The use of traditional production methods makes VACUNA a sweet and tasty oil of high quality. The calcareous quality of the soil creates an oil of very low acidity. The green and fragrant oil with a delicate taste is suitable for a wide diversity of cooking styles and uses. The production is limited, but its natural chemical properties enable an excellent and durable preservation for the oil.

Supporting international culture
10% of the net income from the sale of VACUNA oil will be used to support specific international cultural projects. For 2009, this will be the artist residency programme at OZU cultural centre, when it is planned to offer residencies to ten young artists from around the world.

Adopt an Olive Tree
For only 30 euros you can name your own tree. You will then receive a colour photograph of the tree, a 10% discount on the purchase of Vacuna oil and the option to come to Alta Sabina to pick the olives from your tree each year and make your very own olive oil! By adopting and naming an olive tree in our grove, you will be supporting art, culture and helping to sustain the region and its olive-growing industry. 25% of the net income from this initiative will be invested back into the maintenance and protection of the olive groves and trees. A further 25% of the net income will be used to support international cultural projects. Adopt a tree and give it as a unique gift to family and friends. For more information and to adopt a tree please go to www.olivearte.com

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