MATERA – With the project entitled: “Cultural citizenship of Matera for an open and different city”, Matera is among the finalist cities of the international call for proposals “UCLG-Mexico City-Culture 21 Award”, promoted by the “Culture Committee of United Cities and Local Governments” (Uclg). This prestigious biennial award recognizes exceptional projects and good practices led by cities, local-regional governments and individuals, which significantly promote cultural rights for sustainable local development. In particular, the Award highlights initiatives that defend cultural rights, celebrating innovative projects, in order to inspire and promote best practices in the field of cultural sustainability.
The application process is divided into two phases: first, cities, local and regional governments were invited to submit partially completed application forms, focusing on the highlighted fields, by February 16; then the finalists, including Matera, were invited to submit their complete application by sending the completed application form by April 3rd. The jury will meet this May to evaluate the applications. So the winners of the VI UCLG-Mexico City-Culture 21 Prize will be announced in a few days, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for next July or September.
«We are anxiously awaiting a response – the mayor says Domenico Bennardi and the Councilor for Culture Tiziana D’Oppido– because our project, created with the collaboration of the Matera manager Rossella Tarantino, was immediately taken into consideration among the finalists, due to its originality. Matera continues to arouse curiosity and interest throughout the world and at all latitudes. Winning even an international award of this caliber would be yet another promotional success for our city. After the inclusion among the UNESCO sites and the nomination as European Capital of Culture, the municipal administration continues on a path of international cultural ambition, with important recognitions that will be able to give follow-up and prestige to the great result obtained for 2019″.
