Our core values
Amigdala believes that a good cultural organisation is one that generates meaningful projects in a joyful environment.
Our team is grounded in a set of shared values, which reflect the ethical model we embody both internally and externally. These interconnected principles form a navigational map for our everyday work:
Feminism and Anti-Fascism as Political Values and Everyday Practices
Our feminist practice is not just about the majority presence of women in the group — it is a foundational political stance, alongside anti-fascism. This includes the rejection of all forms of racism, sexism, ableism, and classism; the right and responsibility of each person to speak in her own voice; care for others, for projects, and for the spaces we share, seen as political acts; the value of collective over individual action; interdependence as a core principle; centring freedom and desire in our actions; relational and resource ecology; and the respect for each person's right to disconnect from Amigdala and protect their private life.
Collaborative Culture
We support and practise collaborative working models, where the group functions as an open and cross-disciplinary learning community. We value collective intelligence and learn from one another. We trust each other’s specific skills, celebrate each person’s talents, and acknowledge that Amigdala is an interdependent ecosystem, where each perspective contributes to a shared framework. This culture of collaboration is structured through our working groups.
Accountability
We are accountable for the projects we lead or are responsible for. We regularly update the team on our progress and are open to dialogue and feedback. We honour our commitments, meet deadlines, and respect each other’s right to rest, disconnect from work, and protect their personal well-being..
Autonomy
Amigdala promotes decision-making processes that value both individual autonomy and collective sharing. Each role and group has clear mandates. For irreversible or major decisions, we seek advice or call a plenary to reach a consensus. In other areas, we follow the motto: “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” taking full responsibility for our choices. Our ecosystem is anti-hierarchical and anti-patriarchal, while also supporting the growth of younger or less experienced members. We are autonomous in managing our schedules, as long as we ensure team coordination and presence when needed.
Adventurous Spirit
Amigdala is built on passion and enthusiasm. We all share responsibility for its wellbeing, with varying levels of involvement. Desire is our driving force. We are adventurous, utopian, sometimes bold and cheeky — but also caring and meticulous. We are generous with ideas and not afraid to speak up, suggest change, or take initiative. If something doesn’t work, we don’t wait for someone else to fix it — we step up.
Feedback Culture
Speaking up is a shared responsibility; making mistakes is a collective right. We view failure as fertile ground for learning and growth. We want Amigdala to be a space where people feel safe to acknowledge mistakes and give/receive feedback as a tool to build mutual trust. We give feedback only with consent, distinguish it from unsolicited advice, and deliver it respectfully. We also commit to listening, even when the feedback is difficult.
Transparency
We practise transparency in our relationships and working processes. We address issues of power, hierarchy, and finances with awareness and without shame. We prefer open dialogue before problems become unmanageable, and base our relational model on trust.
Responsible Freedom
Each of us has the right to self-determination, within an interdependent context where our actions affect others. We embrace an ethical stance of “responsible individual freedom”, balancing personal will with listening and care for the group. Limits are dynamic — they include the recognition of our strengths and vulnerabilities, and the understanding that freedom and boundaries coexist with infinite creative potential.
Sisterhood
Sisterhood means caring for and supporting one another, avoiding unnecessary burdening of colleagues or the group. We are mindful of workload distribution and step in when someone is overwhelmed. We understand that failing to meet commitments or communicate clearly can impact others. We value listening and sharing care tasks as forms of sisterhood, and we are not afraid of each other’s talents — because we work in a spirit of shared power, not competition.
Listening (to oneself and to others)
We are committed to practising nonviolent communication in all our interactions. We recognise assertiveness as a healthy way to express ourselves, avoiding both passive aggression and dominance. We choose the appropriate context and medium for each conversation, and engage in deep, attentive listening — to ourselves and to others.
Care
Care is the qualitative lens we apply to all areas of our work and relationships — with people, places, processes, and outcomes. We embrace care for, about, and with as radical political practices against neoliberal individualism. Our commitment to doing things “well” translates into building a powerful and tender community of indiscriminate, promiscuous care.
ph Antonio Arte, performance KIN di Collettivo Amigdala, Napoli, nell'ambito di Maggio dei Monumenti a cura di Teatringestazione, 2023
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