PRESS RELEASE

Vatican City, 13 April 2023 - On Wednesday 19th April 2023, at 7:00 p.m., in the Atrium of St. Peter's Basilica, we will host the academic inauguration of the School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabric of St. Peter, promoted in collaboration with the Fratelli tutti Foundation.

The event, moderated by Antonio Preziosi, director of Rai Parlamento, will be opened by H.Em. Card. Mauro Gambetti, President of the Fabric of St. Peter and the Fratelli tutti Foundation, with institutional greetings by the Minister of Culture, Hon. Gennaro Sangiuliano.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Mario Cucinella, architect, designer and academic, founder of MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects, who will address the students and the guests present on "Digital artisans of architecture and design. Thinking with your hands'.

«Over the centuries, hands - explains Cucinella - have contributed to handing down culture and knowledge; they have given life to thoughts, translating them into form; they have built the new, they have taken care of our cultural heritage; they have restored damaged things, thus enabling them to survive over time; they have brought history down to us and will drive it into the future. Schools are essential to care for the handcrafted knowledge, to teach how to use old and new materials and new techniques that support the craft skills and knowledge; and last but not least, they are essential to spread this knowledge in time and space ensuring consistency between the past, present and future».

«The reflection presented by arch. Cucinella on "thinking with your hands" - underlines Card. Gambetti - focuses on an integral dimension of education, which knows how to reconnect speculative and practical knowledge: the School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabric of St. Peter wants to offer students a virtuous model in this too, establishing a dialogue and combining technique and technology, arts and theory».

The inauguration will also be attended by Mrs. Assunta Di Sante, scientific head of the School, and Prof. Nicoletta Marconi (University of Rome Tor Vergata), lecturer and scientific advisor.

Father Francesco Occhetta, Secretary General of the Fratelli tutti Foundation and Director of the School of Arts and Crafts, will conclude the event.

The academic inauguration will also be an opportunity to present the curricula of the next cycle in the presence of both faculty and students.

To download photos and the factsheet on the School: https://bit.ly/3UIWriF

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURES FOR JOURNALISTS:

Journalists and mass media wishing to participate must send a request, within 24 hours of the event, through the online accreditation system of the Holy See Press Office, at the address: press.vatican.va/accreditations

Requests for interviews must reach the Press Offices in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Mrs. Roberta Leone - Head of Institutional Communication of the Basilica and of the Fabric of Saint Peter - comunicazioneistituzionale@fsp.va - 393 1198745

Mrs. Rita Cristofari - Head of the Press Office Fondazione Fratelli tutti - ritacristofari@gmail.com - 331 2969626 - www.fondazionefratellitutti.org