Fondazione Santagata is pleased to announce the initiative “The Damascene Rose in Sanremo“, a programme of activities to promote Syrian cultural heritage – held in Sanremo from 22 to 28 April – realised in collaboration with Villa Ormond Foundaton, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law of Sanremo, and Syria Trust for Development.
CONTEXT
The public programme of Sanremo stems from the cultural project “The Damascene Rose. From Syria to Turin”, realised in 2023 by the Musei Reali of Turin in collaboration with Fondazione Santagata and the Syria Trust for Development.
Consolidating its interest in the enhancement of Syrian cultural heritage, Fondazione Santagata coordinates a program of activities linked to one of the most iconic symbols of the Syrian culture: The Rose of Damascus, inscribed in 2019 on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims to facilitate dialogue and cultural cooperation, through the creation of moments of reflection and debate on Syrian cultural heritage; creating a platform for sharing and discussion.
The initiative intends to renew Fondazione Santagata’s committment in the promotion of culture in all its forms, and in particular explore aspects of history, literature, music and archaeology, to discover how the path of the Rose, which leads from Damascus to the heart of Europe, is intertwined with that of many other aspects of Syrian culture, recognizing the power of heritage as a bridge for peace and healing of communities devastated by war.
ACTIVITIES
The initiative involves a series of activities:
- Exhibitions: photographic exhibition “The Damascene Rose. From Syria to Turin“; sculpture “Floral Tapestry of Craftmanship”.
- Meetings: Day of Culture for Human Rights with schools; Seminar “Syrian Archaeological Heritage”; Screening of the docufilm “The Oath of Cyriac”.
- Planting of Damascus roses in the Park of Villa Ormond.
- Gala evening with the concert of the Syrian singer Mirna Kassis.
PUBLIC PROGRAMME
The day dedicated to schools is part of the program of the ‘Days of Culture for Human Rights 2024’ promoted by the Auxiliary Foundation
of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, the International Institute of
Humanitarian Law and Fondazione Santagata.
9 AM – 12 PM
− Opening of the session by Gian Luca Beruto Secretary-General of the
International Institute of Humanitarian Law.
− Greetings by Silvana Ormea, Councillor for Culture of the Municipality of Sanremo.
− Introduction by Paolo Bernasconi, member of the Board of the Villa Ormond Foundation and President of the Human Rights Festival of Milan
− Presentation of the project “The Damascene Rose. From Syria to Turin” by Alessio Re, Secretary General of the Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture.
− Presentation of the docufilm “The Oath of Cyriac” by Reme Sakr of the Syria Trust for Development, and projection.
− Debate with the students
7 PM
Gala Evening with concert by the Syrian singer Mirna Kassis
* The exhibition – conceived and realised in 2023 by the Musei Reali di Torino, in collaboration with Fondazione Santagata and the Syria Trust for Development – will be hosted in Villa Ormond from April 23 to 28, 2024.
11 AM
Seminar “Syrian Archaeological Heritage: assessing the current situation” held the Aula Magna of the School of Humanities of the University of Genoa.
− Introductions: Raffaele Mellace (Head of the School of Humanities, UniGe), Fabrizio Benente (Deputy Rector of the Third Mission, UniGe), Alessio Re (Secretary General, Fondazione Santagata).
− Special Guest: Houmam Saad (Deputy Director of the DGAM and Head of Excavations and Archaeological Studies)
PARTNER
Villa Ormond Foundation
International Institute of Humanitarian Law
Syria Trust for Development
