Below is a press release released by the Puglia Region:
The second edition of “Matria. The languages of yesterday, today and tomorrow”, the regional program, supported by the Education Councilor Sebastian Leoto celebrate the precious heritage of multiculturalism, integration and tolerance of which Puglia has been the guardian for hundreds of years, thanks to the presence within it of three linguistic islands.
“The 2024 edition will end with a calendar of events which, from the Dauni Mountains to Salento Grecìa, will enliven the entire regional territory with concerts, shows, screenings, tastings to celebrate the Franco-Provençal, Grika and Arbëreshë communities of Puglia and beyond ” declared councilor Leo who added “This year, in fact, the protagonists of the workshop courses of the Apulia Film Commission, Teatro Pubblico Pugliese and Fondazione La Notte della Taranta were not only the Apulian students but also young people from schools of Molise, Calabria and Piedmont, territories in which the same linguistic minorities present in Puglia exist. An extraordinary twinning that made our kids feel part of an even larger community, of which they can proudly become ambassadors. We will tell the results of this journey with a calendar of initiatives, welcoming young people, teachers, mayors, families, citizens, associations from all over Italy in a great moment of celebration, exchange and sharing. I thank the regional agencies involved and USR Puglia, for us Matria is now a successful bet, a virtuous example that many other regions are looking at” concluded Leo.
Everything is ready, therefore, for the grand finale of the second edition of Matria which will close with five dates, concluding the path started last November in Lecce by the national conference in which the academic world discussed the protection of minorities and good practices at the national.
Off we go Sunday 16 June in Faeto at 10.30 am with the preview of “La festa di Paese”, a traveling event with recitals, dances, guided tours, songs, music and tastings in which the cultural realities operating in the area will enhance the linguistic, historical, cultural, religious-liturgical heritage of the Franco-Provençal community. The initiative, edited by Puglia Public Theatre, it will be a preview of the two days, scheduled then 21 and 22 September both in Faeto and Celle San Vito, also in the presence of students from Piedmont. The director of the Education, Training and Work Department, Silvia Pellegrini, will take part in Sunday’s event, together with the section manager, Maria Raffaella Lamacchia.
After the institutional greetings, the program includes a visit to some sites of interest such as the Civic Museum of the Territory “Mu.Civi.te” organized by young people from the civil service, a visit to the historic mill “Pirozzoli”, demonstrations of local craftsmanship in the town’s shops, the choral incursions of the folk group “Le Faitare” and the final concert performed by “La Corale Nuova Provenza” from Faeto. The “Giornalino” created by the children of the “Virgilio – Salandra” Comprehensive Institute of Faeto-Troia in partnership with their peers from the PP Lambert Educational Directorate of Oulx Alta Valle Susa (TO) will guide visitors on the itinerary. Furthermore, at the two restaurants in the town, it will be possible to taste the “Matria” menu, created specifically for the occasion with tastings of local products linked to tradition.
The August 22nd at 8.30pm in Martano space, instead, for the final event of Apulia Film Commission and the Grika minoritywith the presentation of the three short films made by the students, under the coordination of the director Vincenzo Ardito of Sinapsi Produzioni. At the event, part of the Itinerant Festival La Notte della Taranta, the following will be screened: “A story to tell” created by the group from the Liceo Trinchese of Martano, “A special taste” created by the group from the IC Catanoso-De Gasperi of Reggio Calabria and “Wakes up!” created by the IC – Grecia Salentina group of Corigliano. A total of almost one hundred young people were involved in laboratory activities and involvement in filming, all of which were carried out in places of interest strongly linked to Greek and Greek memory.
Last appointment, finally, that of August 24th at 7pm in Melpignano which concludes the activities organized by the Foundation The Night of the Taranta and the arbëreshë minority with the educational institutions of San Marzano di San Giuseppe (IC Casalini), Casalvecchio (IC Mandes), Taranto (Liceo Archita) and San Martino in Pensilis in Molise (IC Dewey). Since September the children have taken part in musical and dance workshops assisted by the musicians of the Orchestra Popolare and the dancers of the Taranta Ballet Corps.
On Sunday all the students involved will be protagonists of a unique show of music and dance that will open the traditional Concertone di Melpignano, a journey into the sonority and poetics of the Arbëreshë language from Molise to Puglia.
