Ilaria Borletti Buitoni receives Lady Truck Award in Genoa, discusses art, landscape, and civic engagement

Ilaria Borletti Buitoni was awarded the Premio Lady Truck in November 2018 at Teatro Duse in Genoa during the 14th edition of the Festival dell'Eccellenza al Femminile, organized by Consuelo Barilari. The prize, a work by Genoese artist Raimondo Sirotti, recognizes women who combine professional success with cultural and social excellence. Borletti Buitoni, born in Milan in 1955 with a degree in Political Science, served as Undersecretary of State for Cultural Heritage from 2013 to 2018 under Prime Ministers Enrico Letta, Matteo Renzi, and Paolo Gentiloni, and was president of FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano from 2010 to 2012. In an interview, she emphasized the importance of art, culture, landscape, civil rights, international cooperation, Africa, and classical music. She views contemporary art as a vital expression against homogenization, supporting individual talent. On landscape, she defines it as the narrative of a community's life, crucial for identity in globalization. She advocates for education in schools and citizen demand for political action to protect cultural heritage, citing Italy's lag compared to Central Europe in Baukultur. She discussed the Carta Nazionale del Paesaggio, presented on March 14, 2018, as a strategic document for integrating landscape into public policy. Her autobiography 'Cammino ControCorrente' (2014) reflects her unconventional path from business to social commitment and politics, criticizing current conservatism and fear of immigration.