Venosa commemorates 1956 Girasole strike with exhibition

From 2 to 30 August 2026, Venosa will host a photographic exhibition and programme of meetings titled “Lo sciopero di Girasole. 1956–2026”. The event is organised by FLAI CGIL Basilicata, SPI CGIL, CGIL Potenza, the local Camera del Lavoro, Associazione Terra Amara, WARSHADFILM and Làbbash, with the patronage of the municipality.

The exhibition marks the 70th anniversary of the 13 January 1956 protest in which about 300 unemployed farm workers cleared a mud‑filled road to demand work and dignity. Police repression led to the death of young labourer Rocco Girasole, 19 injuries, five arrests and a total of 35 years of prison sentences. It showcases historic photographs of Venosa in the 1950s and images from the 2005 documentary “La morte di Girasole” by Giuseppe Bellasalma and Benedetto Guadagno, linking past struggles to current issues of labour rights and agricultural exploitation.