The “Calvino Invisibilia” creative writing competition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the University for Foreigners of Siena, the Farm Cultural Park and the COMICON-International Comics Exhibition, is aimed at foreign university students, students at public and private schools, both at primary and secondary level, as well as students of the Italian sections in foreign and international schools. The competition intends to promote the Italian language and culture through the work of Italo Calvino, of whom this year occurs the centenary of his birth. In particular, in accordance with the theme of the Italian Language Week: “Italian and sustainability”, the project aims to develop the philosophical and utopian components of the Invisible Cities.
The proposed texts must consist in the creation and narration of imaginary cities, captured in their social, historical, artistic, anthropological, urban planning and environmental dimensions.
Students are invited to participate individually or in groups, using, in the story of the imaginary city, a series of categories similar to those identified by Calvino in his work, which act as food for thought on the contemporary city: what it is today, and how
should it be the city for us?
The papers, to be sent in both Word and PDF format, must have a maximum length of 5 pages (2,500 characters including spaces per page).
In order to introduce students to the mechanisms of narrative, to the work of Italo Calvino and to help them reflect on the meanings of the city, environment and sustainability, the Ufficio V della Direzione Generale per la Diplomazia Pubblica (DGDP) will organize with the classes participating in the competition online training sessions with the University for Foreigners of Siena and with Farm Cultural Park.
To register a class in the competition, the relevant teacher must send an email to dgdp-05.comunicazione@esteri.it by 15 December 2023.
The following data must be specified in the email:
- school, class, section;
- email and full school address;
- name, surname, email address of the reference teacher;
- name of the individual students who wrote the essay;
- transfer of rights to the work;
- authorization to process personal data.
The classes that have submitted the registration application will be able to take part in the training meetings.
The documents must be sent to the email address dgdp-05.comunicazione@esteri.it by 30 May 2024 for schools in the Northern Hemisphere, and by 30 June 2024 for schools in the Southern Hemisphere. Only original and unpublished works are admitted to the competition, and their content must meet the requirements and the objectives of the Competition. The works produced must not have a commercial and/or advertising nature or have contents contrary to the law.
If you need clarification or further information, you can contact the DGDP: dgdp-05.comunicazione@esteri.it
