THE ARK CHALLENGE
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
Boris Hristov International Academy and Festival come out a Rinascimental Concept: the creation of a witty framework made of operas, concerts, performances, flashmobs, cultural meetings, which will bring a new wave of youthful enthusiasm and talents in wonderful urban and rural spaces (Belluno, Nevegal and the surroundings) in order to return traditional and natural places to Opera, by gathering artistical, musical and natural heritage of the Country, the “Bel Paese” so dear to the great bass.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
Belluno is a precious city,with an efficient and careful Cultural Councilor and one of the most virtuous towns in Italy in terms of separate waste collection, recycling of materials and eco-friendly collective attitudes. When we arrived in this city, we found a treasure of gems cuddled among the rugged mountain peaks that crown northern Italy. Its squares, narrow streets, finely decorated and carefully preserved historic buildings tell us the ancient and rich history of a typical border land. You can take a journey through the centuries just walking in the city center: Piazza Duomo, a prosperous and luminous testimony of the Venetian Renaissance, the inner alleys which paint a medieval framework made of charming shadows and “chiaroscuro”, and Piazza dei Martiri, a new airy opening where the eyes can wander. History and Culture keep on being shown in the unique halls and buildings which were built to host music and art but they’ve been empty for too long, and all the authorities, firstly on behalf of the cultural Councilor and the Mayor, have welcomed us and our project with suitable and full support to use these places like music schools, auditoriums, cloisters, theaters and halls. In addition to this urban places which are to be filled with music and art, a few kilometers up in the nearby mountain we found a more rural place which can be revived after years of abandoned Beauty: the Nevegal. This paradise of mountain ridges, lakes and shelters hosts a number of unused tourist facilities, because of close tourist destinations like Cortina D’Ampezzo, but it’s also an extraordinary natural terrace overlooking the Belluno valley and the surroundings Dolomits. The Councilor of Nevegal is absolutely enthusiastic about supporting our project. These are the territories in which we intend to combine sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion, including and enlarging the participation and deep involvement of citizens and all stakeholders.
Key objectives for sustainability
Our contribution to SUSTAINABILITY :
- Pay great attention to energy saving (in summer less electricity is used for lighting and heating) and raise awareness of the use of recycled materials (music sheets, scores, creation of sets and costumes, theatrical props ...) according to the necessary principle of SUSTAINABILITY (and circularity)
- Use all the existing places we have been given by the authorities such as a music school, a theater, halls, museums and auditoriums (in our main headquarters that are Belluno and Nevegal)
- Build a new concept of Opera Theater and cultural center (The Ark) which is 100% locally supported and made with own resources. The theatre is located in the beautiful surroundings of Nevegal and is built from recycled wood (the trees were knocked down by the severe Vaia Dolomite storm two years ago). It is a magical place made with sustainable energy sufficient devices but has been underestimated after the abandonment of the ski resorts. All the products that you will see are part from a never-ending cycle which includes recycled materials from local industries and crafts.
- Use all the new technologies which will permit us to have sustainable and green new operatic productions, like recycled and local materials for sets and props, 3d printers and 3d projections we already experimented abroad
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Our contribution to AESTHETICS:
- Fill places with music and art (our students will perform everywhere in a number of happenings, events and flash mobs while studying, preparing concerts and sharing art and skills with the whole community)
- Create brand new operatic production supported by local authorities to celebrate local authors, like the new production of the opera “La Ferrovia sopraelevata” written by Maestro Luciano Chailly based on the libretto by Dino Buzzati, a famous and important author from Belluno, whose anniversary the citizens intend to celebrate next year. There’s a great interest in supporting this production: Fondazione Teatri delle Dolomiti, Comune di Belluno, CariVerona and Italian-Austrian cultural associations will participate
- Create a new space (The Ark) which can blend into the wonderful nature of Nevegal and inspire a new combination between architecture, technology, nature and culture, bringing theater back to its origin of "a gathering point" in a sort of “semi open air” and sharing green, eco-friendly attitude.
Key objectives for inclusion
Our contribution to INCLUSION:
- In order to have success with our project we firmly believe we need to include the whole local community: we want them to work, participate, join in our activities. A lot of local people are already part of our team: once we start with the Academy and the performances we would like to welcome them with free entrance concerts, affordable tickets , educational classes for children, scholarships for students as much as possible.
- Furthermore, we want to provide an electric shuttle which can take people up and down the wonderful city of Belluno, just 13 km away from Nevegal
Innovative character
Thinking about how many operatic productions there are in theatres’ warehouses and archives, waiting to be put on stage, but actually unused and worn out; about how may theatres close down because they cannot afford to renew their old lighting and heating systems or simply cover the expenses for disinfection and normal every day running and management; about how many places for listening to music are either closed or no more suitable to meet the necessary health and eco-friendly needs of this post- covid era, we imagined a three ways solutions:
- ask for a “loan” to available authorities of existing but modern structures equipped with innovative comforts and services such as auditoriums or recently renovated museums
- fill the whole city with concerts and outdoor events
- create a brand new space 100% locally supported, totally eco-friendly and open to the community which can become a big “artistic catalyst” and an important cultural center of reference not only for the northern Italy but for the whole central Europe.
