Mattarella: 'Culture is not consumption but passing the baton between generations'

"In addition to the legacy of the past, culture is above all the present and the future, not mere consumption of what is casually available: it is a passing of the baton from one generation to the next". This was stated by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Pesaro "Capital of Italian Culture 2024" . "The passing of the baton," continued the Head of State, "is one of the most important tasks that belong to a community and its civilisation. It is a great moment of civilisation, as well as a duty. Making culture means creating works of genius. The fact that we continue to dream,' wrote the anthropologist Roger Bastide, 'confirms that creation remains to be completed. For Pesaro,' Mattarella concluded, 'an industrious dream begins today. A dream supported by the commitment of concrete realisations'.

Pesaro, Mattarella stressed in another passage of his speech, "has taken on this task, proposing as the theme for its capital year: 'The Nature of Culture'. Nature, its balance to be restored, reconciliation with the environment, which has been severely violated and exploited, are also urgent objectives of civilisation and peace. Destruction of resources cannot be dressed up as development but must be referred to as regression. Sustainability is a name for peace. Culture is knowledge. But also consciousness. It takes intelligence and courage to beat new paths. Pesaro proposes this year to make art, nature and technology interact'.

Referring to one of the slogans of the cultural event entrusted to Pesaro's administration - 'Artisans of the Imaginary' - the Head of State explained that the challenge of the event will be to "unite making, proper to the artisan, with immaterial culture, with creativity" Many, he added, addressing local administrators, "will come to Pesaro, from every part of Italy, Europe, from other places, to meet you, to get to know your historical-artistic heritage. This is a consequence of that circularity of culture that does not tolerate restrictions or boundaries, that demands respect for the options of each citizen, that rejects the pretence, whether of public powers or of large corporations, to direct sensibilities towards the monopoly of a single thought. If culture is knowledge, creativity, emotion, passion, feeling, well, it is the prerequisite for our freedoms, including that of being together'.

Mattarella also warned those present that 'we are going through a difficult season, dramatic in many respects, in which man seems, obstinately, bent on destroying what he has built, on flouting his own dignity. The wars being fought on the borders of Europe concern us. Not only because the wind of death, destruction and hatred travels even faster than weapons and affects our lives, our economies and above all our consciences. They concern us because Europe, reborn after the war, has inscribed the word peace in its identity'.