WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PRESIDENT OF A HISTORIC ORGANIZATION LIKE THE FISM IN 2025 ?
Being President of the FISM in 2025 entails a role of great responsibility . This responsibility derives not only from the historical and cultural heritage of an institution that has been active for 77 years , with 28 editions of the World Championship of Magic already held , but also from the need to be an authoritative institutional and cultural reference for 114 magic societies present in over 50 countries around the world .
What drives my commitment to this role is certainly a deep passion for the art of magic , together with a clear and precise vision , summarized in the speech I gave when I took office as International President of the FISM :
“ Study the past , read the present , and design the future .”
This principle expresses the desire to valorize the tradition and history of the Federation , to carefully interpret the current dynamics of the international magic scene and , at the same time , to build innovative strategies that can guarantee magic a future worthy of its great cultural heritage .
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF COMPETITIONS LIKE THE FISM WCM TODAY ?
Contests organized by the FISM are today an essential element for the growth and evolution of the art of magic . Unlike other artistic disciplines such as music , painting , the circus arts , cinema and theater – which have structured and recognized training courses , such as music conservatories , fine arts academies , circus schools and drama academies – magic does not benefit from an institutionalized and universally accepted educational path .
Precisely to fill this institutional gap , the FISM plays a key role , offering a platform through which the international magic community can interact , exchange innovative ideas and experiment with new expressive approaches . The competitions , therefore , become fundamental tools for stimulating artistic growth , pushing artists to continually broaden their horizons , explore new expressive possibilities and benefit from the comparison with different cultural and technical approaches .
Furthermore , the very mechanism of the competition and the presence of precise deadlines exert a strong impulse on the artists , encouraging them to continually refine their performances . The opportunity to compete with the best magicians
in the world – in the case of the World Championship of Magic ( WCM ) – or with the best performers on their continent , in the case of the continental championships , is a fundamental stimulus for the continuous improvement of quality and creativity .
Ultimately , FISM competitions not only offer international visibility to participating artists , but also act as decisive catalysts for innovation and the global development of the art of magic .
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR A MAGICIAN TO PARTICIPATE IN A FISM ?
For every magician , participating in a FISM is much more than just an opportunity : it ' s the concrete realization of a dream . If we wanted to make a meaningful comparison , asking how important it is for a magician to participate in a FISM Championship would be like asking an athlete how important it is to participate in the Olympics .
It is a unique experience , the crowning glory of the personal and artistic journey of every magic enthusiast who wants to not only observe or superficially savour this art , but to fully experience it first hand . Participating in a FISM means coming into direct contact with the stars of magic of the past , pres-
Ali Bongo and Andrea Andrea with Walter Rolfo
32 SPECIAL | 2025