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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