Milan from 9 13 to May will involve its citizens in the story of a'Europe completely diverse from what is described in political debate. The first edition of Europe City Milan it will be a mix of meetings, concerts, films and debates. The four-day festival has plans dozens of events in the strangest places of the city: to cultural centres, to private homes, from bars to art galleries, to the symbolic places of the city, such as Mare Culturale Urbano, Base Milano, Triennale, Pirellone, Centrale dell'Acqua, Teatro Franco Parenti, Siam and Cockaigne farmhouse.
Europe will be told through his citizens and different languages such as music, theater and cinema. Among the various events you can participate in the simulation of a interrogation to which they are subjected migrants during the asylum application procedure or switch between architecture talks in Europe with Stefano Boeri for a folk concert by Joe Victor, from a meeting on communicating Europe with Francesco Costa (deputy director of 'Il Post') or on reasons that hold Europe together with the professor Padoa-Schioppa, to one film review al Movie theater, from a debate on the policy of European security General Gratian (President of the EU Military Committee), to a quizzes with Milanese school kids led by Constantine della Gherardesca, passing through an evening dedicated to common places that separate and at the same time approach Germany and Italy, ending with a performance by dance on the top floor of Palazzo Pirelli.
“The hallmark of the festival is the involvement of the public. The goal is to strip Europe of its excessively institutional and bureaucratic guise to bring it closer to the citizens, and build a new narrative together. In schools we tell them that inclusion, Europe, participation in public affairs are fun, and it works: the kids follow us and are passionate about it. So we decided to extend the story to the whole city.” They explained i Civetta youth, organizers of the event that started from their initiative and from the push of the Milan office of the European Parliament, as part of the #stavoltavoto campaign. The Civetta boys are a group of 12 young researchers and professionals who have been going to schools for two years to train children on the important and neglected topic ofcivics.
Another Milanese agency that enthusiastically joined the project was H+specializing in event organization. "When they came to me to say 'we want to make the Europe festival in Milan, involve the whole city: houses, theatres, bars, schools, cultural centres' - he adds Daniela Cattaneo Diaz, CEO of H+ - I thought they were crazy, but it's from this kind of madness that change is born: I'm with it”.
Associations including Culturit, Joint, Eu Pavillion, Uè, ACLI Milanese, Ispi, EvVisions, Europe Direct, Bocconi European studies Network, Civicum have also come on board to provide content. In addition to the volunteers, 50 students from Milanese high schools will also lend a hand as part of the school-to-work alternation project. Finally, the initiative obtained the patronage of the European Parliament and Commission, Europe Direct, the Municipality of Milan, the Milanese Metro, Villa Vigoni, the British Council.
Initiatives promoted by will not be admitted political parties or candidates of the next European elections. The goal will be to reverse the rhetoric which to date has characterized the European debate e generate a shared narrative of present Europe and of what will be.
