Solidarity with Parma, Italian Capital of Culture 2020

The city of Parma, in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, is Italy's Capital of Culture in 2020, after Matera was designated European Culture Capital in 2019.

Now, if you type "Parma Italy Capital of Culture in 2020" on your designated browser, this is more or less what you'll find:

1) Enthusiastic articles complete with a number of excellent tips on what to visit, until approximately February 20th...

2) ...then, pretty much nothing.

Why? Of course, coronavirus. Covid-19 is hitting everybody's economy hard, but it is undeniable that certain areas such as tourism or culture -and all that revolves around them- are even more hit than others. As a result, what was supposed to be a special year for Parma at national and international level is going in the opposite direction than expected, and the city is suffering greatly.

This is why several Italian municipalities, civil society organizations and public entities are now supporting and promoting a proposal for Parma to keep its title of Italian Capital of Culture in 2021... and ALDA is proudly among them!

From the @parma2020official Facebook page: 

"Culture is reciprocal support. Thank you ALDA for supporting Parma"

The title of "Italian Capital of Culture" is, in fact, aimed at

• sustaining, encouraging and improving the cultural offer in a given city, overcoming the cultural divide and increasing social inclusion and cohesion as well as public participation;
• supporting the use of new technologies;
• promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors;
• achieving sustainable results in the field of cultural innovation.

These are all values that are of course firmly engraved in ALDA's DNA, and at the same time objectives that are simply not attainable in the current condition of emergency due to the coronavirus crisis. 

We therefore wish for the City of Parma, the municipalities and involved entities in its surroundings, and the whole Region of Emilia-Romagna to have a second chance, next year, to share their amazing cultural and touristic wealth with the world! Our hope is, in particular, for Parma and its citizens to have the opportunity to experience this important cultural title with the freedom and liveliness they deserve.

At this link you may find more details in Italian as well as the signed letter of solidarity written and sent by ALDA ambassador Mirko Marangione on behalf of ALDA and its following members:

• Zugliano Municipality
• Progetto Prijedor (Trento)
• Progettarte (Modena)
• Le cose che vanno International (Napoli-Roma-Torino-Taranto). 

Towards Parma 2021... #stayEUnited!