2024-01-22 09:34:00
Pesaro’s year as Italian Capital of Culture officially kicked off on Saturday 20 January at the Vitrifrigo Arena.
A title obtained after long commitment, work and planning, which will now allow the city of the Marche to make itself known in the world through the rich program developed.
Over 8000 people came to attend the inauguration ceremony conducted by Paolo Bonolis, who warned parents and children: “ensure that new technologies are a path to knowledge for the young generations, never a shortcut”. Precisely the link between nature and culture, as well as their relationship with artificial intelligence, digital and constantly changing technology, constitutes a pillar of the project presented by Creative Director of Pesaro 2024 Agostino Riitano: “the question we placed at the center of our action was The nature of Culture, which is also the theme of our year as capital. We therefore intend to explore the contemporary relationships between nature, art and technology and to do so we have involved 400 artists and scientists from 35 countries around the world, aware that the main challenges of contemporary man are articulated in the relationships between these three elements”.
Authorities, artists and guests from all over Italy were present, among whom the most awaited and applauded was undoubtedly President Sergio Mattarella. “Peace is also a great theme that concerns culture – stated the President, addressing the thousands of those present, but also to those who followed the live broadcast on Rai from home – Culture is a leaven that can regenerate peace, and with it the human values that wars tend to erase, drowning them in hatred, rancor, revenge, induced by nationalistic extremism. At this moment, talking about culture, thinking about culture, transmitting culture means raising our gaze for a far-reaching task. Because culture is patient sowing, especially in the new generations.” It is no coincidence that the victory in Pesaro 2024 was dedicated to the cities of Kharkov in Ukraine and its twin city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. A tribute and at the same time a synergy, because, as he underlined the Mayor Matteo Ricci in his opening speech of the ceremony, “our provincial nature makes us humble and anchored to concreteness, but we must never be provincial: we must think big and give hope to our land. Italy has a future only as a polycentric model, therefore in this particular historical moment it must be stitched together, not differentiated”. This is the reason why the capital has chosen to share its victory with the entire territory of the province, electing a Capital of Culture for every week of the year among the 50 municipalities involved.
Also present the Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, who wanted to remember his happy years in this land during his studies and numerous visits to Pesaro, a city he has appreciated for some time now. “I like that you present yourself as a border place, a hinge between the north and the south, a multi-focal center where multiple cultures meet” he said, addressing the many people from the Marche region listening and praising their industriousness. The welcome message from Senator Liliana Segre arrived surprisingly, strongly linked to Pesaro for personal reasons (the first meeting with her husband and her grandfather’s origins). Singers, artists, poets and musicians then performed on stage; particular mention should be made of lthe all-female Olimpia orchestra from Pesarowhich opened the inauguration ceremony to the tune of the Italian anthem, the European anthem and the Overture de The Thieving Magpie. Gioachino Rossini was clearly the great absent/present, mentioned by all those who gave speeches and the starting point for building the project of Pesaro UNESCO Creative City of Music, another important milestone achieved. May it therefore be a rich and profitable year for Pesaro, for the Marche, for the many subjects involved in this ambitious project and for culture, seen in all its potential.
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