The Ministry of Culture announces that 20 Italian cities have submitted their candidacy to compete for the title of Italian Book Capital 2025The call for proposals closed on July 8, when the Municipalities sent the applications accompanied by complete dossiers to the Directorate-General for Libraries and Copyright of the Ministry.
These are the 20 nominations: Benevento, Butera (Cl), Casalnuovo di Napoli (Na), Castel Bolognese (Ra), Chioggia (Ve), Cuneo, Gallipoli (LE), Grottaferrata (RM), Ischia (NA), Latina, Macchiagodena (IS), Mantua, Mercogliano (AV), Mistretta (ME)Palombara Sabina (RM), Sant’Andrea di Conza (AV), Sorrento (NA), Subiaco (RM), Terni and Velletri (RM).
To identify the new capital for 2025 it will be a jury composed of 5 independent expertsof clear fame, in the field of culture and publishing, identified each year by the Ministry. The commission, supported by the technical secretariat, will identify up to 10 finalist projects. Representatives of the cities will be called to participate in a meeting for the public presentation and in-depth analysis of the dossier.
By November 30, 2024, the jury will submit to the Minister of Culture the project of the city proposed to become the Italian Book Capital 2025. Books, reading, cultural events will be protagonists throughout the year and will thus be able to enhance the cultural offering of the community in a logic of growth and social inclusion. The winning city will be awarded a contribution of 500 thousand euros by the Ministry of Culture.
The following cities have won the award in previous years: Chiari (2020), Vibo Valentia (2021), Ivrea (2022), Genoa (2023) while this year’s Book Capital is Taurianova, in Calabria.