ArtLab 17 in Mantua Previews European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018

The European Union has designated 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH) with a budget of eight million euros, aiming to place culture at the center of EU policies. The initiative will be presented at the Forum Europeo della Cultura in Milan on December 7–8. Silvia Costa, European Parliament member and representative in the EYCH Coordination Committee, stated that the year offers a concrete opportunity to prioritize cultural heritage—material, immaterial, and digital—and intercultural dialogue. She highlighted Italy's fundamental role, with a rich program developed in collaboration with Minister Franceschini, Parliament, regions, and cultural institutions. A preview of the EYCH will occur at ArtLab 17 in Mantua on September 28–29, organized by the Fondazione Fitzcarraldo of Turin. This event will gather cultural and creative professionals from across Italy to discuss guidelines for valorizing cultural heritage in 2018 and beyond. Ugo Bacchella, President of Fondazione Fitzcarraldo, described the Mantua event as embodying the project's spirit of sharing, critical reflection, and cross-sectoral dialogue. The outcomes will be presented to institutional stakeholders at the December Forum in Milan. ArtLab 17 is part of a larger program that includes participation in THE ARTS+ in Germany in October.