Expo Milano 2015 attracts big names

Ten top names from the worlds of culture, the arts and sport to decide the Expo 2015 event calendar

Ten big names for Expo Milano 2015. Ten top names from the worlds of theatre, sport, design, and culture will work together to decide the calendar of events and shows for the 2015 Universal Exposition. Gilda Bojardi will be responsible for design, Franco Branciaroli and Sergio Escobar for theatre, Manuela Di Centa for sport, Stéphane Lissner for opera, Paolo Massobrio and Davide Paolini for food and drink, Pietro Petraroia for large exhibitions, Davide Rondoni for poetry and Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo for modern art. “Their task will be to encourage Italy’s crème de la crème to get involved,” explained Roberto Formigoni, the General Commissioner of Expo Milano 2015, “They will put together a unique calendar of events which will attract the visitors who come to our country during the 183 days of Expo 2015.”

The committee held its first meeting on 12th March, which was attended by Giuseppe Sala, the Chief Executive Officer of Expo 2015 SpA, “We should focus on visitors from China in particular,” he explained, “Not just because of the economic growth in their country, but also because the success and enthusiasm of the Shanghai Expo is still fresh in their minds. We need to ensure that the Expo Milano 2015 is a great attraction for international tourism.”

So with 2015 in mind, this recently formed team of luminaries must organise a balanced, wide-reaching cultural offering which will involve creative people and artists as well as theatres, museums, orchestras and sports federations from all over Italy in a calendar of events both on and off the Expo 2015 site. Initial proposals will be in before the end of 2012. “The committee will help to draw attention to our country’s points of excellence, and also to create an outstanding programme of events.” said Mr Formigoni, “The 2015 Expo will be the post-recession exposition where we show the world the many growth factors that make our country unique.”

The team enthusiastically welcomed its new task. Olympic cross-country ski champion Manuela Di Centa and design expert Gilda Bojardi both commented that “It is a great honour,” while Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo said that she is ready to work “to create opportunities for contemporary art and young people.” Food and wine journalist Paolo Massobrio declared, “We will highlight all the ingredients that have made Italian cuisine the legend it is today.” The La Scala and Piccolo Teatro theatres will design a programme especially for Expo 2015 which the director of the Piccolo theatre, Sergio Escobar, says will celebrate “the well-established international relations successfully cultivated by Milan over the years.” The museums plan to create a series of initiatives “that will make the Expo a truly special exhibition,” emphasised the art historian Pietro Petraroia.