Roma and Manhattan sign first cultural cooperation protocol between historic city centers

The Municipio I Roma Centro and the Manhattan borough have signed the first Protocol of Understanding for Cultural Cooperation, establishing a new cultural axis between Rome and New York. The agreement was announced during the Forum Cultura Roma Centro, held at the Temple of Vibia Sabina and Hadrian in Rome. The protocol aims to build an international network based on collaboration between cultural institutions and comparison of governance models. It includes cultural exchanges, youth programs, artistic initiatives, and public art projects involving museums, archives, libraries, universities, and educational institutions from both territories. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that the partnership recognizes historic centers must remain vibrant, inclusive, and inhabited by residents, where culture is infrastructure supporting education, community, economy, and belonging. Rome's Municipio I Culture Councillor Giulia Silvia Ghia emphasized that historic cities must produce contemporaneity, imagination, and international relations, not just preserve the past. The agreement is part of a broader urban cultural diplomacy strategy aiming to build a stable network among historic centers of major international capitals.