The revolutionary rock poet could have performed in Sassari in autumn. «But the Municipality has not found spaces in the city for Patti Smith», denounces Leonardo Onida, poet and cultural operator who created “October IN Poetry”, the International Poetry Festival of Sardinia now in its 17th edition.

The complaint arrives via social media: «I have avoided it so far, so as not to cause controversy and shoot at the red cross. However, as well as being absurd, the situation has elements of injustice and I feel the duty to talk about it."

Leonardo Onida explains: «For 2023 we had 2 big projects, proposed to the Department and directly to the Mayor: bringing Patti Smith to Sassari in October or November , for an exclusive concert in Sardinia as part of the Italian tour, and rewarding her at the Festival or at the City of Sassari Literary Prize in December".

To bring one of the rock legends ("People have the Power" and "Because the night") the cultural operator asked for a contribution of 30 thousand euros, a third of the cost for the concert, but since July it has not found an audience at the municipal administration . «The Municipal Theater was already busy for the artist's available dates. I proposed that I pay the costs for postponing those appointments. No way. The other city spaces? Unavailable. Everyone! Moral? Lost Patti Smith."

Not only that, adds Onida: «The Municipality of Sassari will not give a euro to the most important international literary prize in Sardinia. For the first time in 17 years, there will be no Municipality logo, no patronage received. In my city. We will hold the awards ceremony in the Canopoleno theater, a school that has always been the protagonist of the school jury for many years."