Bastianelli: We will the “decline the substance of the Presidency into culture” in Brussels

It all started with the concert of the Accademia Chigiana at the European Parliament, and then six months will pass at an impressive pace. The cultural programme of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union was sort of a last-minute offer, with several appointments still ongoing as coming from a “virtuous” competition among public authorities and private entities, producing ideas to celebrate these six months at their best. We’ve tried to recap the situation with Alfredo Bastianelli, dynamic Italian Ambassador in Belgium, with a fad for recovering and highlighting the value of the Italian heritage.

Six “Italian” months in Brussels, which is the key for the cultural programme?
“More than a key, I’d talk about a way running parallel to the institutional programme. We’ve tried to support Italian proposals on economy,immigration, growth, on each crucial issue of the Semester, with culture. The programme then is not just about a mere orespresentation of Italian excellences, they are already known to the public here in Belgium. Everyone knows what Italy is, what it has to offer, also because of the remarkable activity of the Italian community here. The target then is “declining the substance of the Presidency into culture” – growth, employment, technological development…I mean, showing the value, the importance of culture for boosting growth.”

After the Greek Presidency, here came the Italian Semester: culture has been the real thread this year…
“As the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said, there’s a thread coming from the Parthenon to the Coliseum, which started to be unveiled after the restorations; these are two ‘ideal places’ of the European essence, two buildings that protected and preserved the spirit of the European essence in themselves.”

In this period of structural scarcity of funds, how did you manage to finance the programme?
“There are some public fundings, not much money still some. The coordination of the proposals coming from entities, institutions and private bodies was made in Rome, and after an evaluation process they decided what to finance into the frame of a logical programme. Other things are financed by private sponsors (which still had to deal with the crisis) that sometimes arrived without the need of calling them to support us. Regione Abruzzo is bringing about an impressive work, marking its way towards Expo2015 (in which it will hold a pavilion) with some events in Brussels too. Some other investors granted us the organisation of some events which we will manage directly, for instance the exhibition about Etruscans at the Parc du Cinquantenaire, or the opening event of the Semester with the Orchestra of Young Accademics of Ortona.”

Which is going to be the top event of the Italian Semester?
“The biggest event is for sure the exhibition of Gold Grounds at the Bozar, maybe the highest expression of culture in Siena in the biggest cultural institution in Belgium. Almost during the same period, to keep the ‘yellow thread’, an exhibition about the “Yellow of Solidarity” into contemporary art. Italian artists working abroad, for instance Michelangelo Pistoletto: one of his masterpieces is already exhibited at the European Council and will be kept there as symbol of the Semester. Then, a multimedia exhibition on Italian migrants will be held at the Bozar, their songs as core of the event (some see them very similar to blues). It will be our homage to the culture of the poor, of Italian and Belgian miners who, after a first terrible period, developed their good coexistence.”

There will be some “Dialogues” too, and this concerns eunews too…
“Yes, the proposal came from the Dante Alighieri in Brussels and eunews: the projects is composed of three meetings with important Italian personalities so far. Massimo Cacciari, Carlo Petrini and Tobia Scarpa. We’ve also organised the “Presidency Cup” together with eunews: sport is part of our culture and there will be a tournament among the clubs of Italian supporters here in Brussels, together with supporters of other nationalities too, as a symbol of friendship and collaboration. The event will begin with the showing of a video by the Italian Olympic Commitee, “One hundred years of sport in Italy”, and with an exhibition of the Italian Frecce Tricolori.”

And Tech Italy again this year…
“Sure. This time it will be organised in four different moments in four sessions where we will compare European best practices, with conferences and workshops, in conjunction with the Councils of Ministers of each area, on research, food safety, protection of cultural heritage and growth planning.”

Dozens of events then…
“We cannot even present a final caledar because we have too many events! There’s a continuous flow of requests for organising events, all slots are getting covered. We’ve the exhibition on Italian design at the Council, the one on the future Italy with the Cnr…and then lots of events on food and wine: an unescapable fact, you know, and the Eic will hold some food&wine weeks with courses for canteen chefs of European Institutions. Everything will be discussed, from salted codfish to salami.”

(in cooperation with Chiara Celluprica)