Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano has identified the next Capital of Culture 2025: Agrigento. This is an important title that will allow the beautiful Sicilian city to invest 1 million euros in the valorisation of the territory's riches, and gain international and national attention. Let's look at the details of Agrigento's victory as Capital of Culture 2025.
How long does the Capital of Culture title last, what does it entail and how is it awarded?
Before exploring the latest events surrounding Agrigento as Capital of Culture 2025, it seems appropriate to say a few words about the great value of the project itself. The initiative that allows the Ministry of Culture to recognise an Italian city as Capital of Culture for a year was launched in 2014 with the aim of promoting the valorisation of Italy's vast tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The prize up for grabs is one million euros, money that the winning city will be able to use to showcase its distinctive features and the elements that determine its cultural development over the course of a year.
The process of Agrigento becoming Capital of Culture 2025 is the same every year. The new Capital is chosen on the basis of applications submitted by the Municipality, Metropolitan City and Union of Municipalities that best represent the ultimate goal of the project. The decision is then taken by a jury of 7 experts appointed from time to time by the Ministry of Culture and, finally, the title is awarded by the Council of Ministers.
Agrigento's candidature for the title of Italian Cultural Capital
Given the very nature of the ministerial initiative, the importance of the award and the prize at stake, it goes without saying that winning the title of Italian Capital of Culture for a year represents a great opportunity to enhance cities and municipalities. So, every year, many cities submit their candidature with original and innovative cultural projects.
During the 'auditions' for the title of Capital of Culture 2025, the finalist cities were:
- Agrigento;
- Aosta;
- Assisi (Perugia);
- Asti,
- Bagnoregio (Viterbo);
- Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia)
- Orvieto (Terni);
- Pescina (L'Aquila);
- Roccasecca (Frosinone);
- Spoleto (Perugia).
The project exhibited by Agrigento is called 'The Self, the Other and Nature. Relationships and cultural transformations'. More specifically, it is a series of cultural initiatives encompassing not only the city but also Lampedusa and the municipalities in the area and has as its core concept the exploration of harmony and conflict between the 4 elements of Empedocles. The objective of the Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025 bid was to investigate the relationship between man and nature through 44 projects, 17 of which were international.
Why Agrigento was chosen as Capital of Culture 2025
On31 March 2023, a celebration was held in Rome in connection with the reigning Capital of Culture (Bergamo/Brescia) and the winner of the title for 2024 (Pesaro). It was here that Agrigento was nominated by Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano as the new Capital of Culture 2025. During the award ceremony, the reasons for the decision were explained by the same judges who presided over the edition, namely Davide Maria Desario, Paolo Asti, Luca Brunese, Maria Luisa Cantoni, Luisa Piacentini, Isabella Valente and Salvatore Adduce.
First of all, it was stated that the recognition of Agrigento as Capital of Culture 2025 was obtained because of the characteristics of the project presented, which is extremely in line with the offer of centres of cultural interest at territorial, national and also international level. Secondly, Agrigento's candidature highlighted the active involvement of the island's young people, hence the new generations, and this was certainly one of the key reasons for the judges' recommendation of Agrigento as Capital of Culture 2025.
Finally, the city and the projects presented in Agrigento's candidature as Capital of Culture 2025 present innovative elements with regard to socio-economic promotion and development initiatives in a perspective of peace between man and nature. These elements certainly surprised the judges who, however, also expressed their appreciation for the organisational skills of the other finalist cities in the competition.
Which will be the Capital of Culture 2024?
The Capital of Culture 2024 will be Pesaro, in the Marche region.
When is the Capital of Culture 2025 decided?
The Capital of Culture 2025 has already been nominated by Culture Minister Sangiuliano. It is the Sicilian city of Agrigento.
What is the new capital of culture?
For the 2023 edition, the Italian Capital of Culture is Bergamo/Brescia, for 2024 it will be Pesaro. Finally, the Capital of Culture 2025 will be Agrigento.
How is the capital of culture selected?
The choice of the city to be named Capital of Culture for a year is made by a jury of seven experts appointed by the Ministry of Culture.