Italy's Dante Celebrations Committee Funded 104 Projects for 700th Anniversary

The Italian government's National Committee for the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri's death, established in 2017 by then-MiBACT Minister Dario Franceschini and chaired by Prof. Carlo Ossola, has funded 104 projects including 19 conferences, 34 exhibitions, 10 publications, 36 performances, 4 Dante-themed itineraries, 2 research grants, 3 summer school courses for high school teachers, and a new opera. The committee launched an open call on December 31, 2019, receiving over 500 proposals from all Italian regions and abroad. Selected projects include a Dante week at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, a show on Francesco Scaramuzza at the Pilotta in Parma, an exhibition curated by Jean Clair at the Scuderie del Quirinale, and 'La Vita Nova: L'amore in Dante nello sguardo di 10 artiste' in Rome curated by Alessandra Mammì. Secretary General Maria Ida Gaeta noted Dante's enduring relevance in both high and popular culture, comparing his universality to Shakespeare's. The committee will dissolve in 2022, but aims to leave lasting legacies such as teacher training courses at the Universities of Verona and Naples and post-doctoral scholarships.