Matera 2019 European Capital of Culture Opens January 19

Matera's year as European Capital of Culture begins on January 19, 2019, with a five-part opening ceremony titled 'Open the Future!' The program starts January 18 with art installations: Matera Alberga places contemporary art in Sassi hotels, featuring works by Dario Carmentano (La fonte del tempo), Filippo Riniolo (Rapporti), and Alfredo Pirri (IDRA Istituto Di Ricerca Anime). Lumen | Social Light installs 15 light sculptures designed by Giovanna Bellini, built by local community and southern Italian companies; over 6,000 citizens will create 'bag-light' objects in workshops at Open Design School curated by Joseph Grima. The ceremony on January 19 includes 20 Italian and 19 European bands playing across Matera, a light installation 'Matera Cielo Stellato' by Francesco Foschino, and a show hosted by Gigi Proietti broadcast on Rai. On January 20, the exhibition 'Ars Excavandi' curated by Pietro Laureano opens at Museo Ridola and Ipogei Lanfranchi, exploring cave cities worldwide with augmented reality. A collateral photo exhibition 'Mater(i)a P(i)etra' by Carlos Solito, in collaboration with Jordan Tourism Board and Petra Authority, highlights links between Matera and Petra.