The States General of Cultural Diplomacy will be held today at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, an opportunity for the Directors of the Italian Cultural Institutes to meet and exchange views with both public and private organisations on the promotion of Italian culture and language abroad, as part of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cultural diplomacy strategy.
The proceedings will begin with institutional greetings from the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and the political authorities responsible for the enhancement and protection of cultural heritage and production: the Italian Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini; the Italian Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè; Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Culture, Gianmarco Mazzi; Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, Paola Frassinetti.
The proceedings will continue behind closed doors until Wednesday 11 October and will be divided between thematic sessions on the objectives of cultural diplomacy as a tool for affirming the national interest and sessions of an operational nature to help increase efficiency in the management of the Italian Cultural Institutes (currently 86 all over the world). The Institutes are in fact an integral part of the Italian foreign diplomatic-consular network and a meeting and dialogue point for intellectuals, artists, cultural partners and all private individuals, both Italian and foreign, who wish to establish or consolidate a relationship with our country.
