THE CONFERENCE ARTE FORMAZIONE CULTURA (ART, EDUCATION AND CULTURE) TOOK PLACE ON THE 7th OF OCTOBER IN PRESENCE OF THE ITALIAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION VALERIA FEDELI.

The conference Arte Formazione Cultura (Art, Education and Culture) was held on Saturday, the 7th of October 2017, at the Marcelline Institute”, in Via Quadronno in Milan. In this occasion the new headquarter of the Ukrainian Ballet Academy was inaugurated.

This project is the result of the long-time collaboration between the Marcelline Institute of Languages and the Ukrainian Ballet Academy. Starting from September 2017, the prestigious Academy will have a much bigger location in Via Quadronno, with the objective to have wider spaces favouring a more focused approach to dance.

Among the participants to the debate in two rounds there were the Minister of Education, University and Research Valeria Fedeli, the Director General of the Regional School Office of Lombardy  dr.ssa Delia Campanelli, the Director of the Territorial School Office in Milan  dr. Marco Bussetti, as well as executives of the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research), such as the Director General for the school systems and autonomy of the MIUR Carmela Palumbo 

The Superior General of the Marcelline Institute opened the conference and passionately presented the mission of the Marcelline Sisters and their educational project. Then, the moderator Stefano degli Abbati, gave the floor to Sister Miranda Moltedo and Prof. Alessio Tentori, who stressed the importance of knowing how to face the challenge of “Knowledge. Knowledge in doing and in being", which is essential to move forward in life. Afterwards, Prof. Piero Cattaneo (headmaster of the highs schools for humanities, for scientific studies, and for scientific and sport studies based at the Social Institute in Turin and professor at the Catholic University of Milan and Piacenza) took the floor and exposed the state rules echoed in the encyclical letter “Laudato Sì” by Pope Francis, encouraging the school system to promote all forms of art, and specifically dance, which was the main topic of the conference.

The director of the Ukrainian Ballet Academy Dr.ssa Caterina Calvino Prina held an interesting speech, exposing the didactic program of the Academy and talking about the boost received since the Academy moved its seat to the Marcelline Institute in the academic year 2006/2007.

The internationally renowned étoile Luciana Savignano held a moving speech, in which she was visibly pleased to exalt the artistic value of the Academy and the added value of the Marcelline Institute, which provides its students with a cultural education.

The talk delivered by the economist Maria Chiara ParolaParola was strong and direct. She addressed the Minister Fedeli and officially asked for a State recognition of the role played by the Academy, in addition to the recognition by the Regional School Bodies, represented by the Director General of the Regional School Office of Lombardy Dr.ssa Delia Campanelli, and by the Director of the Territorial School Office in Milan Dr. Marco Bussetti, whose presence attested the importance of a dialogue with the institutions.

Sister Anna Monia Alfieri grittily moderated the second round of the debate, in which the Minister of Education Valeria Fedeli took the floor. She began by saying that as a representative of the government and as a citizen of Milan, she recognizes the worth of the Marcelline Institute in Milan, of the Academy as a part of its educational project, and of their ability to create a powerful mix of quality and innovation. Then, she addressed the leaders of the project, stressing the educators’ responsibility in conveying a sense of global citizenship in their students.

The Minister argued that she could not give false hopes, that it would be a long way to go, but she also referred to the delegation provided for by law n. 107/15, according to which a new method of recruiting teachers will be adopted in the coming years. Minister Fedeli also pointed out that nowadays training courses should include other subjects in addition to the traditional ones, especially subjects related to culture and arts, such as music, dance, cinema, and so on. This is the only way to give a comprehensive education and training.

The Minister stated the need to strive for the quality of the Italian educational system and underlined the fact that <strongItalian state-recognized private schools are qualified schools, they are therefore a richness, and not just a shortcut. In fact, they are an advantage and a contribution to the competitiveness of our country.

The objective of the partnership between the Academy and the Institute is to offer to families an educational path, which gives the desired results and brings satisfaction to the students. This is only possible through constant commitment, hard work, and by avoiding easy shortcuts, which are so typical of our society.

At the end of the conference, Minister Fedeli presented the director of the Ukrainian Ballet Academy Dr.ssa Caterina Calvino Prinawith a plaque for her commitment to promote and develop the professional training of students thanks to her teaching staff from Eastern Europe, where the Vaganova method was born, and on whose principles the Academy courses are based.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inauguration of the Academy's new headquarters was then followed by a visit to the various press and guest rooms, and by an elegant refreshment in the Institute's courtyard.