Brief description of the organisation
The Cultural Policies Office - Culture and Innovation Department favours the Municipal Administration’s cultural policies, carrying out different initiatives in order to realize the best conditions for participation of schools, young people, elderly and disabled persons in cultural events and to give many occasions for the valorization of young artists’ creativity.
Moreover, the Office supports the actions of the Culture and Innovation Department by promoting intercultural dialogue and access to culture proposed by Municipality of Genoa as strategic policy with regards to integration and tolerance.
The office’s work is inspired by the principles of the Agenda 21 for Culture integrated with the guidelines defined by the Municipality Strategic Plan for 2012 and it is harmonized with the decentralization and participation processes, currently in progress , after the adhesion by Genoa to the International Association of Educational Cities and to other international networks.
Within this framework, here the Cultural Policies Office main tasks:
- Youth creativity policies
- Access to culture
Furthermore, the Municipality of Genoa - Culture and Innovation Department is actively participating in EUROCITIES (the network of major European cities), notably its Culture Forum. Moreover, it collaborates in many regional, European and international projects. Here some examples: “ARISTHOT. Science en Mediterraneé” (Interreg IIIB Medocc), “REALITY. An Opportunity to learn by living our past” (Culture 2000), “MELT. Migration in Europe and Local Tradition” (Culture 2007), “EPISTEMETEC” (Transfrontaliero IT-FR Marittimo), “WINNOVATE” (Med Programme), “Rock’n. Researchers on the Rock” (FP7 Researchers’ Night 2010) and in other projects carried out in collaboration with European Council and EUROCITIES, titled “Intercultural cities governance and policies for diverse communities”. Currently Cultural Policies Office participates in the “CREATIVE CITIES” project (Central Europe Programme).
Brief description of Genoa
Genoa is situated on the North-Western part of Italy and it is the capital of the Liguria region. It has about 610,000 inhabitants and many of them are foreigners. Its modern port is one of the most important of the Mediterranean Sea being itself a strategic logistic basis for the maritime trade. In the last years, thanks to a great dynamism, Genoa imposed itself also in the field of research and technology becoming a magnet for many entrepreneurs who found here new development and investments opportunities.
Genoa is rich in art, music, gastronomy, architecture and history and, during 2004, it was appointed as European Capital of Culture.
Since years, a great urban renovation process is being changing the city, and particularly its Old Town: in 2006, 42 ancient palaces, which in the past were chosen by lot to host leading personalities visiting the city (the Rolli system), were inscribed on the World Heritage List (UNESCO).
Genoa, squeezed between mountains and coast, extended itself vertically, making use of the space between earth and sky. The city stretches along the coast for about 30km and for 10km inland between the Liguria Sea and the Apennine Mountains covering an area of 256 square km.
The city, birthplace of Christopher Columbus and Nicolò Paganini, reveals itself through fascinating panoramas discovering its imposing architecture and its peculiar urban structure, the Renaissance buildings, Romanesque churches, the Medieval bell-towers and the sumptuous interior decorations. Moreover, the Porto Antico area renovated by the famous architect Renzo Piano, being itself a modern square of the thousand-year-old city, the deep breath for the narrow alleys, the driving force of a tourist vocation, the passageway open for different culture, in a single definition: “The square on the Mediterranean”.
Genoa, is an important tourist destination where it is possible to enjoy of an exceptional climate, a place where art and history are harmonized into a suggestive atmosphere between sea and hills.
Brief description of the city’s peculiarities as far as creativity and culture are concerned
Facts about Genoa
Genoa is a city that has a wide and diversified cultural offer proved in the number of structures:
- 22 museums
- 120 libraries
- 1 Opera theatre
- 13 Other theatres
- 39 Cinemas
- 1 Culture Palace
There was a total of 3.208.273 visitors to the exhibitions and events in 2007.
The city’s renewal situated Genoa as cultural city the touristic presences in 2009 were:
- Arrivals: 681.619
- Touristic presences: 1.426.689
In Genoa there is also one of the largest universities in Italy that currently is divided in 12 faculties.
New places for cultural fruition:
“Porto Antico” – an old port area in the town centre and assigned for public use; currently it is the location of Aquarius of Genoa, Congress Centre, multiplex, Antarctica Museum, Sea and Sailing Museum, Faculty of Economics, a four stars hotel, a marina, an international children library - “Città dei bambini” (space for children targeted scientific popularization) and many other attractions. It can also host concerts and open air events.
Palazzo Ducale –an ancient palace owned by the government of Genoese Republic called Ducale due to the fact that it gave hospitality to the Doge; after renovation now hosts international art exhibitions and events; it has become the city’s Culture Palace.
Teatro Carlo Felice –the XIX century opera theatre, reconstructed after the bombing during II World War.
Fiumara –an amusement plaza and shopping center, built after demolition of industrial plants, hosts an indoor sports and music arena, a multiplex and private housing estates.
According to Richard Florida methodology:
- consistence of the “Creative class” in Genoa is 23,99% of the population (2nd place in Italy after Rome);
- Talent Index: 3rd place (just after Rome and Trieste)
- Technology Index: 7th place
- Hi-Tech Index ranking: 6th place (economic activities connected to new technology)
- Innovation Index: 24th place
- Connectivity Index: 7th place
- Tolerance Index: 20th place
- Integration Index: 4th place (foreign resident education; mixed marriages; foreign children % and education level)
- Diversity Index: 47th place
- Gay Tolerance Index: 23rd place
These data put Genoa at 6th place on the ICI (Italian Creativity Index) after Rome, Milan, Bologna, Trieste and Firenze.
Comune di Genova
Area Cultura e Innovazione
Piazza Matteotti 8; Palazzo Ducale 1° piano
16123
Genova, Italia
Phone number: +390105574840
Fax number: +390105573970
www.comune.genova.it
Name of the contact person and contact details
Canepa Luigi
+390105574840 - +390105573970
[email protected]
Lead Communication Manager
Saglia Emilia Marieta
[email protected]
[email protected]
