Florence Commends Women for their Cultural Legacy
Florence Commends Women for their Cultural Legacy
The 2018 European Heritage Days celebrations in Florence will witness a slightly different perspective.
In collaboration with Cassa di Risparmio Foundation of Florence, a culture and media group Elastica decided to put together a programme dedicated to the women who created the Tuscan and European cultural heritage throughout the history.
Similarly to the Parisian event Les Journes du Matrimoine, Florentine’s L’Eredità delle Donne proposal will help redefine Italian cultural and artistic identity by recognising women who have been central characters in its creation. The celebration lasting from 21 to 23 September will be packed with exciting events that celebrate outstanding female artists, scientists, thinkers, academics, philosophers and architects.
Women’s Legacy in Florence
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This year’s theme was inspired by Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, who is recognised as the first “Mother of the Fatherland.”
Being the last of the Medici grand-ducal branch, in 1937 she signed The Family Pact that obliged the new inheritor Francesco Stefano di Lorena to preserve all of artistic and cultural heritage of the Medici collections in the city of Florence and the State of the Grand Duchy. Recognising the importance of this act, women’s heritage celebrations serve as a unique homage to the legacy of Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici.
The September events in Florence will be hosted by another truly inspiring female artist - Serena Dandini.
Dandini will give talks and conduct interviews with outstanding national and international individuals on the state of the cultural heritage. Traditionally following the European Heritage Days programme of performances, guided tours, conferences and meetings, the Florence celebration will host an array of extraordinary female figures from different art and industry categories.
Moreover, The Legacy of Women initiative plans to incorporate the local vision of the female culture into a set of discussions and presentations. An OFF Programme will be organised with an open call for citizens, groups and organisations to take part in telling the story of the Florentine female heritage protagonists. The deadline for online applications is June 30. For more information, visit the official website.
The project, supported by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and by the City of Florence, is the first of the kind in Italy, yet not the only one in Europe.
Women Inspiring Europe
The 18th edition of European Heritage Days in Bizkaia is going to be focused on the female power behind the creation of society and heritage.
Similarly, The UK has chosen to highlight the Extraordinary Women as one of the key themes of the 2018 Heritage Open Days. With the aim of foregrounding the overlooked aspects of heritage, UK invites everyone to nominate an extraordinary woman from their community to be featured on the Wall of Women or in a dedicated blog post.
All three strategies to bring the role of women to the forefront are significant for the European heritage narrative. By incorporating the female perspective, European cultural heritage develops a more realistic and inclusive character that strongly speaks to the modern generations.
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