Experiencing change through the eyes of others | Andrea Mercuri | TEDxPolignano a Mare
Newsstands were going through a period of deep crisis, partly due to the decline of the publishing industry. When the decision was made to take over one, the Municipality of Rome was approached, and the Councillor called the idea "crazy." No one knew what the future would hold, but thanks to an in-depth study of the independent publishing market, an opportunity began to emerge. Through this project, change is experienced every day through the eyes of others. People feel the need to express themselves and engage in dialogue, because change is a driving force—a convulsive beauty that deserves to be followed. Andrea Mercuri is an entrepreneur from Calabria who grew up in Rome.
Passionate about independent publishing and design, she studied Art History and Heritage Conservation at Roma Tre University. In March 2019, she opened Edicola Erno—*Edicola Romana Non Ordinaria*—located in Piazza Americo Capponi, in the Prati district, just steps from St. Peter’s. This innovative urban regeneration project transformed an old newsstand, closed for seven years, into a cultural and artistic space.
Erno embraces change by organizing cultural events, book presentations, exhibitions, and pop-ups in collaboration with artists and brands such as Maison Valentino, Armani, Max\&Co, Nike, Uniqlo, L'Oréal, Espressoh, Jil Sander, Artknit Studios, Dodo, and many others.
The newsstand—designed as an accessible, informal place where diverse people can meet and engage—is now a vibrant hub for the creative community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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