Seminar

“The experience through our history”

Italian influence in the world through emigration, culture, tourism, language and economy.

The Magna Grecia Foundation: a much-needed Observatory on Italianity.

The Italian Cultural Institute of New York hosted the seminar organized by the Magna Grecia Foundation, an in-depth study of the Italian influence in the world through emigration, culture, tourism, language and economy.

The meeting was moderated by journalist Fabrizio Frullani, deputy director of TG2.

In his opening remarks, Fabio Finotti, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of NY, highlighted the importance of the meeting and the inauguration within the Institute of a room dedicated to the Mario Fratti Study Center Archive – known as the “American Pirandello”, an Italian playwright who won 7 Tony Awards – and to the Magna Grecia Foundation, of which Fratti himself was vice-president. "This seminar truly represents the very idea that the Institute has always stood for, where open borders represent, through cultural relations and beyond narrow territorial boundaries, a value of international scope."

The President of the Magna Grecia Foundation, Nino Foti, took stock of this moment and said: "We have organized an important event, in the presence of representatives of the main organizations of Italians of origin in the United States, a call to action to build together an Observatory on Italianity, which can represent the first step in a path of in-depth study of the relational dynamics and influence of Italian culture in the world, also in connection with the "Return Project", another historic initiative of the FMG on the promotion of root tourism".

President Foti added: "Let us never forget the important contribution that Italian migrants have made to the development of the United States of America.

Our Foundation, which has been around for 40 years, has accompanied many Americans in the search for their Italian roots, building relationships and precious opportunities to meet through the pride of wanting to be Italian. Not only does the contribution of Italianity lie in the language, but also in the hearts and minds. The cultural aspect transcends generations, and here we must make sure to say where they come from and why they contribute to the development of American civilization."

Anthony Julian Tamburri, Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute in New York, then took the floor.  Lisa Ackerman, Executive Director of the Columbus Citizen Foundation, Angela Mazzarelli, Judge of the New York Appellate Division, Adriana Trigiani, member of the National Board of Directors of NOIAW, Joseph Sciame, President of OSDIA and Arthur Gajarsa, President of IAPC, followed with their speeches.

The project of the "Observatory on Italianity" of the Magna Grecia Foundation, will see the participation of people from the institutional, cultural and economic world of Italy and from the countries where the representation of Italians of origin is greatest, and will deepen the main themes underlying the concept of Italianity in the world, analyzing the impact they have on social and economic dynamics and how they represent a "bridge" with young Italians of origin who, according to recent studies, are in need of a greater connection with Italian culture than previous generations".

The modern concept of Italianity is expressed through a series of tangible and intangible values, which have distant historical roots and complex paths, often difficult or underestimated, such as emigration, which has brought Italian culture to many countries around the world, spreading those unique values also recognized as world heritage, which have influenced all categories of thought, art and architecture, music, beauty, taste, design, technology.

Finally, the most recent concept of "Italico / Italic" - a model resulting from the Anglo-Saxon one of the Commonwealth, the Spanish one of Hispanidad and the French one of Francophonie - is also noteworthy. It expands the context of Italy going from an estimated 80 million Italians of origin in the world to over 250 million admirers of Italian culture, as an element of union and identity in the world.