The ecomuseums of Veneto are told in the Biois Valley

From Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th April the first Meeting of the Ecomuseums of Veneto is scheduled in the Biois Valley, an opportunity for all the regional ecomuseums, both those recognized by the Region and those not yet registered in the Register, to make themselves known and to make people appreciate the natural, historical and cultural beauties that their territories preserve.

The event is organized by the Ecomuseo della Valle del Biois (www.ecomuseovalledelbiois.it), established and recognized by the Veneto Region in 2021, which involves the Municipalities of Canale d’Agordo, Falcade and Vallada Agordina. «The conformation of the Valley and the historical-geographical context unite the three Municipalities from an identity, linguistic, folkloristic and cultural point of view», explain Loris Serafini and Roberta Marcolongo, respectively president and director of the Valle del Biois Ecomuseum. A characteristic that has been typical of ecomuseums since their birth at the end of the nineteenth century and which were recognized in 1971 in France at the IX International Conference ICOM (International Council of Museums).

But what is an ecomuseum? There are two main ingredients: the territory and the community. «The ecomuseum is not limited to a building in which to preserve ecological finds – underline Marcolongo and Serafini – in the ecomuseum the main actor is the inhabitant of a territory who, together with a community, takes care of, enhances and promotes a peculiarity of the environment that surrounds it. Often the theme is linked to the history of the past, traditions, the rural context, the language. The idea was born from the need to safeguard the history of a place.” It is therefore the combination of territory and community that constitutes the basis of the ecomuseums that began to spread in Italy starting from the 1990s until they reached around 230 current ones, spread throughout Italy.

All this will be discussed during the days of the meeting which will be divided into various appointments: after the meetings with the secondary school classes of the Biois Valley, it will be the turn of two days of work in which the regional ecomuseums will participate: in the Sala Emigranti of Canale d’Agordo Roberta Marcolongo will talk about «Identity values ​​of places: the example of dairies» (Tuesday 23 April), while Loris Serafini will remember Don Della Lucia by talking about his work within the theme «Dairies-Museum: between history and valorisation of the territory” (Wednesday 24 April) in the meeting scheduled in Sappade at the Agriturismo Piccola Baita. The paper guide Ecomuseo Valle del Biois will also be presented, a volume that describes the sites of the ecomuseum in its entirety.

On Friday 26 April, at La Casa della Gioventù in Caviola di Falcade, the cultural evening «Tut a una» will be held with the presentation of the Valle del Biois Ecomuseum to the inhabitants of the valley and with the participation of Luisa Manfroi and the Folk Union group Ladin. The rich series of events will close with a two-day open day of the Valle del Biois Ecomuseum sites with free admission and guided tours for everyone.

«The first Meeting of the Venetian Ecomuseums will be a very important opportunity for discussion – conclude Marcolongo and Serafini – we thank the Municipalities involved, the Pro loco of Falcade, Canale and Vallada Agordina, the parishes, Dolomiti PromoFalcade, Cooperativa Falcade, Bim Piave, El Ganbaretol Alimentari di Vallada, Associazione El Van and all the bodies and sponsors who have allowed us to organize this week of meetings, which is so important to raise awareness of the beauties of the Veneto and the ecomuseums that are committed to valorising and taking care of them”.