The Lionello Bonfanti Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary; from 16 to 18 October, the Venti Nuovi are coming to Burchio

In October 2006, the Polo Lionello Bonfanti opened in Burchio, a village in the municipality of Figline and Incisa Valdarno (Florence). Twenty years on, those who built it and those who work there today are opening its doors to the local community with ‘Venti Nuovi’, three days of events and celebrations from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October.

Three events are open to all, with free admission. The Polo is a business centre established next to the Focolare International Centre in Loppiano and named after Lionello Bonfanti, a magistrate who, for fifteen years, oversaw the construction of houses, roads and workplaces in Loppiano. It was made possible by thousands of small shareholders who chose to invest in an economic model centred on people. Today, it is home to around forty businesses and associations: the Risana Medical Centre, Legno Service & Art, Mercamondo, the School of Civil Economy, and D.F. Alimentari. Throughout the year, the Polo also hosts conferences, training courses, exhibitions and public meetings.

On Friday 16 October, at 7.30 pm, the evening is dedicated to Francis of Assisi, eight hundred years after his death. The evening opens with the award ceremony for *La voce di Francesco* (The Voice of Francis), a competition that invited poets, musicians, illustrators and storytellers to answer the question: what kind of economy does Francis sing of today? This will be followed by the theatrical performance *Il Cantico di Francesco*: actress Cristina Colonnetti gives voice to Clare of Assisi and, through her eyes, tells the story of Francis, with music by Enrique Spacca, Carlo Gorio and Linda Ngoie.