Inspiring younger generations and investing in the future: this is the vision that led Baglietto to launch a new initiative dedicated to local students, following the message shared by CEO Diego Michele Deprati during the recent launch of the shipyard’s flagship yacht. The project combines creativity, education and maritime culture — values deeply rooted in Baglietto’s heritage.

Organized by the Officina Baglietto educational programme and promoted with the support of Confindustria La Spezia, the local Education Authority and the patronage of the Municipality of La Spezia, the initiative took shape as a creative contest open to primary and middle schools across the city. The project forms part of the international celebrations for World Boating Day, the 23rd May.

The sea — a defining element of Baglietto’s identity and history — was the central theme of the competition. Through art, storytelling and imagination, students were invited to explore the cultural, environmental and human value of the maritime world.

The contest, which concluded today with the final award ceremony, was divided into two creative categories:

• My Sea of the Future – Art & Sustainability, dedicated to primary school students, encouraged children to express their vision of the sea and reflect on the importance of protecting it through artistic language and creativity.

• Sea Stories – Narrative & Imagination, designed for middle school students, challenged participants to create original stories inspired by an imaginary book mysteriously discovered inside the shipyard, turning the sea into a space for adventure and storytelling.

Thirteen classes participated in the initiative, producing nine original projects spanning illustration, installation art, audio storytelling and video. In particular:

·        Piajet Institute classes 3B and 2C collaborated on the illustrated story A Bottle of Thoughts;

·        Due Giugno School created The Day the Sea Spoke to Pietro, an audio poem accompanied by digital illustrations;

·        Mazzini Middle School’s class 2C developed a logbook-inspired narrative titled Grandfather;

·        Garibaldi Primary School’s class 4D produced a collage artwork titled Our Sea;

·        Anna Frank School’s class 1D presented the illustrated fantasy tale Next Stop: Opukasandra – The Shipyard and the Magical Journey;

·        Cervi Institute’s class 3B created A Fantasy Marine Adventure;

·        La Pianta School involved classes 2A and 2B in the collective artwork Clear Sea, Mirror of Sky and Dreams;

·        Dante Alighieri School’s class 5B designed a seahorse-shaped installation titled Ipposcarto;

·        Formentini Middle School’s class 2G produced the video project Fragments of Infinity.

The jury — composed of representatives from Baglietto, the Municipality of La Spezia and Confindustria — awarded joint first prize to Ipposcarto and Fragments of Infinity, recognising both projects for their originality, creativity and strong interpretative approach to the contest theme.

Second prize went to Next Stop: Opukasandra – The Shipyard and the Magical Journey, praised for its imaginative narrative and visual storytelling inspired by a fantastical underwater adventure.

Third place was awarded to Clear Sea, Mirror of Sky and Dreams, a symbolic artwork created using seashells to represent the importance of preserving the marine environment.

The winning schools received a cash contribution to support the purchase of educational materials, rewarding the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment shown throughout the initiative.

“The quality and emotional depth of the projects genuinely exceeded our expectations,” commented Raffaella Daino, Head of Communications at Baglietto. “The students demonstrated remarkable creativity, sensitivity and storytelling talent. Choosing the winners was incredibly challenging because every project brought forward a unique and authentic interpretation of the theme.”

With this initiative, Baglietto further strengthens its connection with the local community and reaffirms its commitment to promoting education, culture and the values linked to the sea, craftsmanship and future generations.