The Italian Youth Forum (IYF) 2018 was the first international forum organized by AIGU dedicated to young Italians on UNESCO’s major themes. It took place in Matera from February 23 to 25.
The initiative was part of those promoted by MIBACT within the official program of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. These events took place throughout 2018, the year marking the 25th anniversary of the inscription of the site The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera on the World Heritage List.
The protagonists
The young participating members, aged between 18 and 35, were the key protagonists of the event. By exchanging ideas and immersing themselves in various UNESCO themes, they sparked discussions on the enhancement, development, and transmission of Italian cultural heritage.
The event featured numerous contributions from speakers representing institutions, culture, and the non-profit sector. Among them were Franco Bernabè, President of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO; Basma El Husseiny, Director of Culture Resource (Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy), Cairo, and UNESCO expert in Cultural Governance and “Diversity of Cultural Expressions”; and Ferdinand Richard, President of the Roberto Cimetta Fund, who served as the first coordinator of the panel of experts for UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity.
The Themes
The Forum specifically addressed the themes of education, innovation, outreach, and sustainable development, capitalizing on their opportunities and moments for future growth and promotion.
Among the activities open to the public (upon registration) was a series of training workshops—with limited availability and led by industry experts—focusing on the main themes of the Forum.
Workshop participants had the opportunity to discover and experience the reality of AIGU firsthand, becoming part of an active and inspiring group of 300 members, including students, researchers, artists, professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs. Programmatic documents outlining best practices to be implemented during the current year were drafted during these workshops.
