FLORENCE, ITALY – An artisan coining a florin under the admiring gaze of the public, a numismatic collection created especially for Expo 2015, exclusive videos illustrating artistic crafts and an installation: feathers in the armoured dock that once separated the accused from the courtroom at trial. The spaces of the former Court of Florence complex, one of the rare examples of Baroque architecture in Florence, come back to life with the Casa delle Eccellenze, the ‘House of Excellence’ temporary mall sponsored by Expo 2015 and open to the public free of charge until 31 October.
The Casa delle Eccellenze, promoted and funded by the Chamber of Commerce of Florence, produced by PromoFirenze and enjoying the co-sponsorship of the City of Florence and the Region of Tuscany, was inaugurated this afternoon by Claudio Bianchi, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of Florence, Mario Curia, Managing Director of PromoFirenze, and Giovanni Bettarini, Councillor for Economic Development of the City of Florence. The initiative is part of the international Work’nFlorence #Expo2015Firenze project directed by Alessandro Grassi.
“Recovery of such a marvellous space as the former Florence Courthouse in Piazza San Firenze for creating a temporary mall destined to change its face every 15 days, as the participating companies rotate out and in, is another of the projects which show how Expo 2015 can be enjoyed in Florence as much as in Milan,” Claudio Bianchi, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce of Florence was quick to point out.
“The aim is to exhibit products which stand out for innovation, tradition, or excellence, produced by Florentine companies working in such key sectors as quality industrial production, artistic crafts and food and wine,” added Mario Curia, Managing Director of PromoFirenze.
During the inaugural ceremonies, the Opus Ballet company of Florence, directed by Rosanna Brocanello, performed a passage from Swan Lake choreographed by Loris Petrillo, who revisited a masterpiece in a current, contemporary key without detracting in the least from its classical charm. At the Casa delle Eccellenze, the theme of ‘ethereality’ was also interpreted by IED Firenze in their installation which transformed the prisoners’ dock with feathers and their selection of music: instant jazz by the Now! ensemble.
The exhibition schedule at the temporary mall follows a theme calendar, while in the apsidal area a suggestive conference space is open for meetings, debates and presentations by companies, consortia, networks and institutions.
The Casa delle Eccellenze is open every day from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm (including Sundays). The companies now showing are Picchiani & Barlacchi (metalworking), Biofficina Toscana (cosmetics), Marakita (women’s fashion accessories and crafts), Maison 39 (women’s apparel), Paolo Penko (crafter of objects in gold and gems), Quercelfo (gift items), Rossi 1931 (gift paper products), Torre d’Arte (fashion accessories and products), Il Neonato di Graziella (children’s apparel), Vanda Nencioni (artistic crafts and interior decorating), Associazione Esercizi Storici Fiorentini (the artistic crafts of Bongi, Pestelli and Filistrucchi).
These companies will remain at the Casa delle Eccellenze until Sunday, 17 May. The Casa delle Eccellenze will be closed to the public in the morning on 18 May but will reopen promptly at 2:00 pm with new companies and new exhibitions.
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