(Adnkronos) – The directors of Italy’s cultural institutes worldwide are gathering from Tuesday through Thursday in Verona to hammer out the cultural diplomacy priorities, taking the opportunity to forge stronger ties with the cultural and institutional excellences of the northern city and surrounding area, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The conference, which is being organised by the foreign ministry, will revolve around a series of workshops focused on the role of culture as a tool for international dialogue, the promotion of Italian businesses which drive the national economy and support for growth diplomacy, according to the statement.
The event will wrap up on Thursday with its institutional session, featuring addresses by foreign minister Antonio Tajani, tourism minister Gianmarco Mazzi and other speakers, said the statement.
The Verona conference follows previous events held Naples in 2022, in Florence in 2023, in Matera in 2024 and in Macerata-Recanati 2025, the statement noted.
There are currently 88 Italian cultural institutes in 63 countries around the world, which are the main tool for promoting the Italian language and culture worldwide. The institutes organise over 5,000 events annually, including exhibitions, concerts, film festivals, performances, meetings, and initiatives dedicated to contemporary Italian art and cultural heritage, thanks to some 24 million euros of public investments.
The cultural institutes’ work is supported by approximately 200 officials, who are committed – in Italy and abroad – to promoting Italy’s cultural excellence and strengthening ties with international audiences and Italian communities worldwide, the statement concluded.
