2026 General Assembly on Culture in Turin: Cultural Geographies and the Future of the European Capital of Culture

At 10.00, the writer and comic-book artist Matteo Bussola will lead the discussion “Writing with images, drawing with words”, dedicated to the craft of storytelling and the expressive possibilities arising from the convergence of visual languages and writing.

At 10.20, the panel “The Geographies of a European Capital of Culture” will bring together Chiara Bobbio, Head of the Culture, Archives, Museums and Libraries Division of the City of Turin, Paola Borrione, President and Head of Research at the Santagata Foundation, Marina Chiarelli, Councillor for Culture, Equal Opportunities and Youth Policy for the Piedmont Region, Rosanna Purchia, Councillor for Culture for the City of Turin, and Elvira Rilova, Head of European and International Affairs for the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2031 bid. Moderated by Agostino Riitano, Director of the City of Turin’s bid to become European Capital of Culture for 2033.

At 11:00 , the visual talk “Art Belongs to Everyone” will feature a discussion between Alice Pasquini, a visual artist, and Elisabetta Roncati, a digital content creator, author and co-founder of Art Nomade Milan. Following this, Alessandra Scaglioni, Head of Programmes for Radio 24 and Podcasts at the Il Sole 24 ORE Group, will explore the topic “How to describe the art you see”.

At 11.25, the discussion ‘Businesses, regions and projects: when culture creates a network”, introduced by a speech from Ermete Realacci, President of the Symbola Foundation, will feature Antonio Carloni, Deputy Director of the Gallerie d’Italia in Turin, Katya Corvino, Head of the Heritage Lab, Licia Mattioli, President of Consulta Torino, Bruno Sconocchia, President of AssoConcerti, and Francesca Velani, Vice-President and Director of Culture and Sustainability at Promo PA Fondazione.

At 12.25 pm, Enzo Mazza, CEO of FIMI – the Italian Music Industry Federation – will take to the stage to discuss a highly topical issue: AI and the creative industries: the new rules of the game.

At 12:35 , the panel discussion ‘The Future of Italian Music’ will bring together Andrea Miccichè, President of NUOVO IMAIE, Massimiliano Pani, record executive, publisher and music producer, and a representative from Spotify. The session will be moderated by Frank Pagano, a contributor to Il Sole 24 Ore, advisor and author. The session is scheduled to end at 13:00.

With “Cultural Geographies”, the 2026 States General of Culture once again examine the physical and symbolic maps that connect people, places and languages, providing a forum for discussion on policies and initiatives capable of making culture a shared resource and a driver of development.

The States General of Culture – Turin is organised by Il Sole 24 Ore and the City of Turin, in collaboration with the Turin Foundation for Culture, as part of Turin’s bid to become European Capital of Culture 2033. The event’s main partners are Intesa Sanpaolo, Italgas and SIAE. For information and registration: 24oreventi.com/sgctorino2026. 

Turin | Intesa Sanpaolo Auditorium – 4 November 2026

9.30 am — Official welcome

Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, Chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo

Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin

Fabio Tamburini, Editor-in-Chief of *Il Sole 24 Ore*

Federico Silvestri, Chief Executive of the Il Sole 24 ORE Group

10:00 – Writing with images, drawing with words

A conversation about the art of storytelling with Matteo Bussola, writer and comic-book artist

Presented by Stefano Biolchini, journalist at *Il Sole 24 Ore*

10:20 - The geographies of a European Capital of Culture

Chiara Bobbio, Head of the Culture, Archives, Museums and Libraries Division, City of Turin

Paola Borrione, Chair, Head of Research at the Santagata Foundation

Marina Chiarelli, Councillor for Culture, Equal Opportunities and Youth Policy, Piedmont Region

Rosanna Purchia, Councillor for Culture, City of Turin

Elvira Rilova, Head of European and International Affairs for the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2031 bid

Moderated by Agostino Riitano, Director of the City of Turin’s bid to become European Capital of Culture for 2033

11:00 – Art belongs to everyone

Visual talk with

Alice Pasquini, Visual artist

Elisabetta Roncati, Digital Content Creator, Author and Co-founder of Art Nomade Milan

Moderated by Stefano Biolchini, journalist at *Il Sole 24 Ore*

How do you describe the art you see?

Alessandra Scaglioni, Head of Radio 24 and Podcast Programmes, Il Sole 24 ORE Group

11:25 – Businesses, regions and projects: when culture creates a network

Introduction:

Ermete Realacci, Chair of the Symbola Foundation

The following people are discussing this:

Antonio Carloni, Deputy Director of Gallerie d’Italia – Turin

Katya Corvino, Head of the Heritage Lab

Licia Mattioli, Chair of Consulta Torino

Bruno Sconocchia, President of AssoConcerti

Francesca Velani, Vice-President and Director of Culture and Sustainability at Promo PA Fondazione

Moderated by Stefano Biolchini, journalist at *Il Sole 24 Ore*

12:25 – AI and the creative industries: the new rules of the game

Enzo Mazza, CEO of FIMI – Italian Music Industry Federation

in conversation with Stefano Biolchini, journalist at *Il Sole 24 Ore*

12:35 - The future of Italian music

Andrea Miccichè, President of NUOVO IMAIE

Massimiliano Pani, record executive, publisher and music producer

Moderated by Frank Pagano, contributor to *Il Sole 24 Ore*, adviser, author

13:00 – Closing of the proceedings