Now it’s a countdown to the answer Chris Torchto which the mayor Giuseppe Marchionna proposed to be the artistic guide of the candidacy of Toasts Italian Capital of Culture for 2027.
The definitive meeting
Next week, the artistic director and cultural policy expert will be in the city to meet the mayor again and definitively respond to his proposal. If, as many believe in the city hall, the response will be positive, the administration will announce the agreement at a press conference in the immediately following days.
A high level profile
Torch is a independent expert in cultural policies And project designer. He has extensive experience in public engagement but also as an art curator and expert in intercultural politics. He led the artistic unit for Timisoara European Capital of Culture 2021 during the startup phase, from February 2017 to July 2019. In 1996 he founded “Intercult”, a production and resources unit focused on culture, ideas and artsof which he was artistic director until February 2017. He led the applications, which later proved successful, for European Capital of Culture of Matera 2019 And Rijeka 2020. For the latter he was program director until December 2016, when he was recruited for the Timisoara candidacy. In 2016, he was co-author of an important study on audience development, i.e. the quantitative increase in attendance but also the growth in the relationship with the public, in cultural initiatives. Study commissioned by the European Union. Regardless of project design for large-scale projects, Torch contributes to the development of intercultural policies. He was part of the executive committee of the association “Culture Action Europe” from 2006 to 2018 and, previously, of the board of the European Museum Forum, a museum organization of the Council of Europe, and of the Ietm, the International Network for the Arts performative.
A challenge to win
Meanwhile, in recent days, well in advance of the deadline set for July 3rd, the administration approved the council resolution with which is officially a candidate for the Ministry of Culture’s tender. The city of Brindisi, we read in the report, “has all the necessary requirements to present the candidacy as Capital of Culture 2027, for the recognized historical, archaeological, landscape and cultural heritage; the candidacy represents a unique opportunity for the Municipality of Brindisi to set in motion virtuous mechanisms capable of activate economy, territory and community; this candidacy, regardless of its outcome, constitutes an opportunity for cultural growth of the entire territory, through the involvement of local bodies and institutions, as well as an opportunity for cohesion and social integration”. And in fact, many have expressed themselves in an optimistic manner regarding Brindisi’s chances of obtaining the title Capital of cultureeven the former undersecretary of culture Vittorio Sgarbifor whom the city «has an important classical history to valorise».
Possible collaborations
In recent hours, among other things, also the rector of the University of Salento Fabio Pollice proposed to collaborate for Brinsisi’s candidacy, recalling how Brindisi has «great unexpressed potential. Nominating it as the Italian capital of culture – he added – makes sense, because the investment that has been made in the industry it created more problems than it solved». A possibility to which Mayor Marchionna responded: «We take note of the availability of the rector Pollice. We can only take it into account. Which we will do with the availability of all those who want to collaborate». Marchionna, therefore, is open to all collaborations that can contribute to bringing Brindisi to the result it has set itself, namely victory.
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