New high school in Turin combines art, languages, and gastronomy

Starting in September 2021, the Madre Mazzarello Salesian Institute in Turin will launch a new five-year high school program that integrates traditional academic subjects with hands-on training in art and food culture. The initiative is supported by Fondazione Torino Musei and Slow Food, along with Terra Madre and the University of Pollenzo. Students will study topics such as art restoration, curation, museum management, food history, sensory education, and biodiversity. The program includes about 50 hours per year of classroom and field activities led by experts from the partner organizations, held at venues like GAM, Palazzo Madama, and MAO, as well as at Slow Food-affiliated production sites. Some activities will be conducted in English. The collaboration originated from a series of talks called Prospettive, which featured local art and business figures and was meant to conclude with a lecture by Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, canceled due to COVID-19. The new curriculum aims to prepare students for international careers by combining linguistic skills with artistic and gastronomic expertise.