Gearing up for Florens 2012

FLORENCE, ITALY – The International Week for Cultural and Environmental Heritage, Florens 2012, is scheduled to take place in Florence from November 3 to 11.

Cultural directors include Mauro Agnoletti, Andrea Carandini and Walter Santagata, with Davide Rampello as artistic director.

The last edition of Florens, in March 2011, was cited in the European Commission’s ‘State of the Cities’ report as the only case of Florentine excellence created over the last few years. It was mentioned as ‘an example of good policies and practices for facing urban challenges’ and it proved fundamental for ‘strengthening local economies in order to improve the national and international position’ of Florence while achieving ‘cohesive and sustainable’ development.

Expectations surrounding the event’s upcoming edition are even higher than in the past and resulting media attention received over the past few days bears witness to this fact. Florens 2012 is intent on getting far-reaching international attention thanks to the themes it deals with, including the Economy of Cultural and Environmental Assets and their role as a flywheel for generating emerging economic realities. The final objective is to offer innovative ideas and strategic and operative strategies to key players, thereby contributing to the cultural system present in Italy and abroad.

Its International Forum will feature various themes including: Conservation, the Fruition and Communication of Cultural Heritage; Fashion, Style and Creative Industries; Territory and Rural Landscape.

The program calendar will be announced in October. In the meantime, here are a few key figures: 300 international speakers; 3 days of International Forum; 43 Conventions and Round Table events at the Sala dei Cinquecento and the Salone dei Ducento in Palazzo Vecchio; 6 Lectio Magistralis; 8 cultural cocktails in Palazzo Vecchio’s Sala D’Arme; 1 premier cinematographic screening by National Geographic. Other events are currently in the planning phase.