The Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Sydney has a new Director

Dr. Paolo Barlera is the new Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Sydney. Barlera comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience, having served in the same capacity in San Francisco and New York.

Raised in Lombardy, in the town of Sermide, Barlera graduated from the University of Bologna with a degree in Philosophy. In the mid-1980s, he obtained a PhD in “Italian Literature and Civilisation” at the New York University. Barlera worked at the Italian Institute of Culture in New York as Communications Manager for nearly a decade. He then joined the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Cultural Promotion Officer and moved to Rome for an internship, before being appointed Director of the San Francisco branch of the Institute in 2012 and in New York in 2018. Having recently arrived in Sydney, Dr Barlera released a brief message wishing the community and the Friends of the Institute the very best for the upcoming Christmas celebrations and for a fruitful 2023.

“Dear Friends of the Institute. Proudly, and gratefully, I have taken up my new position as Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney just a fortnight ago. Timing could not be better: now that the worst of the pandemic crisis appears to be behind us, this promises to be one of the most rewarding blue-prints for the times ahead. Indeed, the promotion of culture seems to be today the best guiding light in our fast-changing global scene. And the richness of Italian culture lends itself beautifully to this task- with a specification, however.

I would like to think of ourselves not just as a centre of Italian culture, but by and large an Institute of culture, whose aspirations are to create bridges beyond mere national boundaries. And that, in just a few words, it’s what I think should be the task of public diplomacy, an idea that is shaping more and more deeply our institutional policies.

My first steps after touch-down and first acquaintance with this city and this country have been nothing but a pleasure. My commitment is to reciprocate the kindness and confidence with which I have been welcomed; my mission, to keep building upon the solid foundations of Italy’s presence in both Sydney and Australia, welcoming everyone who has a genuine interest in culture and all things Italian. With the hope to see you often at our initiatives, I send my best wishes for the end of year festivities and a productive 2023.”

Allora!’s Editorial Team is pleased to welcome Dr. Paolo Barlera in his new role as Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Sydney, assures him of our ongoing commitment to promoting the initiatives of the Institute under his leadership and wishes him the very best for his term of office in our wonderful Australian city.

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