Art&Tourism, Tuscany presents its project

FLORENCE, ITALY – The strength of a museum today lies not merely in the value of its assets, but above all in its abilities to promote and publicise itself using specialist services. In such a context the educational activities addressed to schools are fundamental since, on the one hand they bring young people closer to the cultural heritage of their region and on the other they stimulate important debate between schools and museums in an osmosis of knowledge and methodologies.

Art&Tourism is a new fair dedicated to precisely this subject. What’s new, what’s curious, big events great destinations and travel opportunities for the public, business opportunities for professionals in the sector all feature in the fair. The most comprehensive panorama ever of what’s on offer nationally and internationally.

Edumusei is a centralised online database to enhance and promote the educational activities carried out by museums in Tuscany, it tries to strengthen the relationship between the school programmes and the educational programmes in the museums and it provides a useful tool for organising school trips in the local area. Since 2006 teachers who enrol in Edumusei have received the Edumuseicard: which entitles them to many benefits offered by the museums in Tuscany such as reduced entrance price, discounts on products in the bookshop and museum publications, facilitations for educational activities and they can request some of the Tuscan Region’s publications free of charge. It is definitely worthwhile for any teacher to visit the Edumusei circuit and learn about the educational activities proposed which can then be presented to the class.

The Edumusei stand is located in Pavilion Cavaniglia, and for the three days of the fair it will host 11 museums in Tuscany, each of which will present one of their educational workshops targeted at families. The museums featured are: “Il Cassero” for 19th and 20th century Italian sculpture – Montevarchi/Arezzo, Horne Museum – Florence, Museum of straw and weaving – Signa/Florence, Maremma Museum of archaeology and art – Grosseto, Museum of the Mediterranean – Livorno, Diocesan Museum – Massa, Natural History Museum – Calci/Pisa, Country Culture Museum- Casole del Monte/Pistoia, Museum of Planetary Science – Prato, Bambimus – Santa Maria della Scala – Siena, Civic archaeological museum – Camaiore/Lucca.

The Edumusei stand includes a specially designed space with a photo gallery to learn about the above-mentioned museums. In addition, 19 other museums and archaeological sites located throughout the region are also featured. They all pay particular attention to offering education workshops targeted at families, schools and adults.

These 19 structures are: Maec – Museum of the Etruscan Academy and the city of Cortona – Cortona/Arezzo, Aboca Museum – Sansepolcro/Arezzo, Children’s Museum – Palazzo Vecchio – Florence, Parco minerario of Gavorrano – Gavorrano/Grosetto, Archaeological Museum – Orbetello/Grosetto, Parco archeologico of Baratti and Populonia – Livorno, Parco archeominerario of San Silvestro – Livorno, Cathedral Museum – Lucca, Museo archeologico of Massaciuccoli – Lucca, Museum of Sculpture – Carrara, Malaspina Castle – Massa Carrara, Museo della Geotermia – Larderello/Pisa, Museum of the Piaggio Foundation – Pontedera/Pisa, Civic Museum – Pistoia, Paper Museum – Pescia/Pistoia, Museo Opera del Duomo – Prato, Pecci Museum – Prato, Museo della Mezzadria – Buonconvento/Siena, Museum of Prehistory – Cetona/Siena.

A video touch screen showing the provincial capitals in the Region of Tuscany is available. It allows visitors to get an introduction to the area selected and to browse the museums included to have more in-depth details on the education offer presented.