Artists, actors and contemporary art galleries will unite on June 20 for the "Cieli di Roma" (Skies of Rome) initiative, aimed at highlighting the Eternal City's cultural and creative heritage in order to combat the negativity born from the corruption and bureaucratic problems that plague its residents.
Led by actress Simona Marchini, cousin of Alfio Marchini, who was recently defeated in the first round of Rome's mayoral elections, the initiative includes a performance at the Globe Theatre as well as a group of 27 contemporary art galleries slated to stay open late.
The performance will feature actors, writers, directors and other artists set to take the stage to read from literature or a play, act out a poem, or simply express a thought in favor of promoting the city and its culture.
Slated to appear are actor and Globe Theatre artistic director Gigi Proietti, as well as writer Andrea Camilleri of Inspector Montalbano fame and the actor who played him on Italian television, Rome native Luca Zingaretti.
Other actors on the playbill are Alessio Boni, Lino Banfi, Franca Valeri, Piera Degli Esposti, Sergio Castellitto and Franco Nero.
Several directors will also come out from behind the scenes, including Bernardo Bertolucci, Nanni Moretti, Giuliano Montaldo, Liliana Cavani, Cristina Comencini and Ugo Gregoretti.
During the evening's show, music will be performed by members of the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, a multi-ethnic orchestra formed in Rome in 2002 that was also the subject of a 2006 documentary.
Also on June 20, 27 contemporary art galleries in Rome will keep their doors open late with shows dedicated to the theme of promoting Rome and its cultural heritage.
Marchini said this is just the first of a series of projects planned to involve a wider public, including children and residents from the city's outskirts, in cultural appreciation.
The idea is that by giving back hope to the city, the negative trend of forgetting its cultural heritage can be reversed.
Marchini didn't mention her cousin by name as she spoke of the upcoming mayoral run-off election on June 19, and emphasized that she will make an effort to carry her projects forward regardless of who is voted into office.
"Of course we'll try to collaborate, but I'm used to autonomy," Marchini said.
"If someone I don't like wins the elections, I'll make an effort," she said.
"We'll request spaces and availability from the institutions, in hopes that there will be sensitivity for culture. Otherwise, as usual, we'll do it by ourselves".
Marchini said she wants to create an artist-financed fund for the realization of specific projects.
"The city's cultural life is extremely active, but we have to create a community to fight this age of separation," she said.
"We need passion and to start from the children, to give them a different vision of life and a sense of respect for things of beauty".
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