ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE WALES LAUNCHES IN CARDIFF

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27.05.2015

Press Release

ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE WALES LAUNCHES IN CARDIFF

The Italian Cultural Centre Wales was launched on Friday 22 May 2015 at an event held at Butetown Arts & History Centre in Cardiff.

At the event attended by representatives from a number of arts organisations in Wales, Directors Dr Luisa Pèrcopo and Dr Luca Paci outlined their vision for the Centre as a lively connecting hub and resource centre for Italians in Wales and everyone interested in Italian culture.

The evening included performances by the Italian poet and translator Cristina Viti and by Baritone Richard Parry, who sang Italian and Welsh arias accompanied by pianist Chris Glynn. A documentary on Italians living in Wales directed by Paolo Viel was also shown. Refreshments were provided by Calabrisella, and sponsored by Orangebox and Vinitalia.

The Centre is run by a team of enthusiastic Italians based in Wales from a variety of different backgrounds and regions in Italy including video editor/VFX generalist Paolo Viel, and Italian tutor Caterina Bertelli.

Luisa Pèrcopo and Luca Paci said: “Our purpose is to discover and create new connections between Italy, Wales and the rest of Europe and to reinforce existing ones, particularly those born from the well-established Italian-Welsh communities who have played an important role in contributing to and shaping present day Wales.”

The centre will host regular cultural events such as book launches, poetry reading, a film and a book club, food tastings and concerts. The next event will be held at Butetown History and Arts Centre on 2nd June (Republic Day in Italy). The event called #GranaJazz will feature a live performance by Gyazzoband (an Italian Jazz band based in Caerphilly) and wine and Grana cheese will be available for tasting.

The event also officially launched the first Italian Film Festival in Cardiff, which will take place in October 2015.

There are also plans to run an educational programme for children and adults learning and maintaining Italian as a second or first language in partnership with The Italian Job.

Follow ICCW at @IccwHere and www.facebook.com/ItalianCulturalCentreWales

For images and further information contact mail.iccw@gmail.com

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9 thoughts on “ITALIAN CULTURAL CENTRE WALES LAUNCHES IN CARDIFF

  1. As someone who is trying to teach himself Italian and is very interested in Italian culture, I am really interested in attending any events taking place. I will be attending some of the films in your forthcoming festival. Good luck for the future !

  2. I’m interested in tracing the history of the Rea family in Tonypandy, my Great Grandfather and Grandmother (Amedeo & Santella Rea) originate from Arpino, Frosinone, and am keen to learn more about this.

    I look forward to the film festival, as I eun a recording studio in Chapter Arts Centre

    John.

    • Ciao John,

      I have done research on Italians in Wales. May I suggest you look at the site http://www.welshitalians.com, in particular the section called ‘your stories’. You can either send me something about your family and/or an appeal to be published for your family history research. Ciao da Bruna!

  3. The new Italian Cultural Centre Wales is a very welcome initiative. I’d just like to suggest a notice board to link adult Italian speakers of similar interests. Conversation circles are good, but they can be a little static. Conversation in the context of activities might work better. A noticeboard could be excellent for facilitating that. Who knows: we might even tempt the odd madrelingua to take part. There could also be Italian students in South Wales who might like to trade Italian conversation for lessons in advanced English.

    I’d also like to suggest that you consider offering Italian languages courses for children and young people not of Italian descent. Surely you’d welcome interest from the broadest possible section of the population.

    As you can see, I’m very enthusiastic about the launch of the ICCW. I will be coming to see all the films in the festival and will eagerly await more events.

  4. I think ICCW is a wonderful initiative. I am Welsh with no family connections with Italy but fell in love with the country about 15 years ago – and then managed to buy a house in Sardinia.

    I like Mariam’s language suggestions above – also it would be great to have opportunities to speak Italian – with both/either madrelingua or English learners.

  5. Hi I am a senior citizen of Italian origin. My mother was born in Casino ( tante anni fa). I am interested in learning the Italian language, of which I have a little knowledge. Could you please advise me on the best way to accomplish this? I would like a one to one teacher, I am able to travel. Please advise me of cost of lessons, if you are able to help me. Grazie.

    • Hi Anna. I am a senior citizen of Welsh origin who has learnt Italian. I have a house in Sardinia. My Italian is not perfect but is good enough to deal with Italian authorities and trades to manage my small holiday letting business. I would be happy to help. I am based in Cardiff. My email address is p.harding77@yahoo.co.uk.

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