“Dedicated to spreading the best of Italian
arts, culture and education”
Mission Statement
-To encourage participation in
the Italian language, arts, and culture, through lectures,
presentations, films, study groups, classes and other events and
activities.
-To become the hub of cultural
activities in the Intermountain West by providing facilities,
instructors, and lecturers for people interested in Italian
culture.
-To promote the awareness of
Italian-American involvement in shaping the past, present and
future of the region.
Introduction
The Italian Center of the West
was incorporated as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization on
December 3, 2003. It was the dream of several people in the
Salt Lake community to provide a cultural outreach and education
forum on the Italian civilization. Through the efforts and
generosity of many volunteers this dream became reality.
As a non-profit, the Center
has a Board of Directors who are leaders in the community and
share a common vision for the Center and a love of Italian
culture. Funding is provided by generous donations from
individuals, business owners, corporations, and foundations in
the community.
Our Beliefs
We believe that the Italian
culture is the most familiar to the general public in the United
States and that many people, of Italian and non-Italian descent,
have an interest in learning more about it. Can you think of
any other culture that captures the attention and interest of
Americans? Consider the following examples:
Art Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo
Buonarotti, Donatello, Titian, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Canaletto,
Bernini, Cellini, Modigliani
Literature Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Thomas
Aquinas, Niccolo Machiavelli, Petrarch, Cicero, Umberto Eco,
Alberto Moravia
Music Giuseppe
Verdi, Gioacchino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini, Antonio Vivaldi
Fashion Armani, Prada, Valentino, Ferragamo, Dolce
and Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Bulgari, Pucci, Missoni,
Cerruti
Food Pizza, pasta, biscotti, risotto, polenta,
cheese, wine, olive oil, espresso, gelato
Film Federico Fellini (La Dolce Vita),
Lina Wertmuller (Swept Away), Roberto Benigni (Life is
Beautiful), Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso),
Franco Brusatti (Bread and Chocolate)
Architecture St. Peter’s Basilica, Colisseum, Villa D’Este,
Piazza Navona, St. Mark’s Square, Florence’s Duomo, Ponte
Vecchio, Spanish Steps
History Etruscans, Romans, Medieval, Renaissance,
Risorgimento, Modern
The Center welcomes all
people, Italian and non-Italian, who would like to learn about
and experience the unique and exciting culture of Italy. It is
a culture that is both captivating and inviting which needs to
be shared with everyone.
Programs and Activities
In its first 17 months, the
Center has sponsored over 30 special cultural events. Of
particular interest were lectures on Italian history, Sicilian
poetry, Italian-American culture in Utah, and books on Italy
delivered by experts in their field or university professors.
Art shows, musical performances, panel discussions and
roundtables have also been presented. Events are usually free
to the public.
Weekly programs at the Center
include:
| Italian film screenings: |
Sundays 4:00pm - 6:00pm |
| Conversation club: |
Sundays 2:30pm – 4:00pm |
| Social meetings: |
Saturdays 10:00am –1:00pm |
| Lectures, presentations:
|
Friday evenings—check Calendar
tab |
The Center also offers Italian
language classes and can arrange private lessons.
As part of its mission to
document the history of the Italian migration to Utah and the
Intermountain West, the Center has started to digitize
photographs and collect the written and oral histories of the
families that settled in the region. These stories and pictures
of honor, family, hard work, sacrifice and triumph are being
stored on the Center’s website for all to view. In addition,
the Center hopes to receive funding to make high speed computers
available at the Center for visitors to access this
information. A future goal of the Center is to allocate space
for a museum that showcases Italian immigration to the
Intermountain West.
We Welcome You—Benvenuto!
At the very heart of the Italian culture is a generous and warm
hospitality which we extend to you, your family, and friends.
Please stop by the Center, attend a film or lecture, volunteer
your time, or financially support our efforts to reach people.
We rely on the generosity of individual people, company matching
funds, foundation grants, and corporate giving to deliver a
truly unique experience in the Utah community. If you or
someone you know can help, please contact the Center at 801-364-8259.
