We should welcome them not only for the obvious humanitarian reasons that lie at the heart of our values and culture. But also, selfishly, because we need them. If we set aside emotionalism and apply reason, the data prove it. Italian entrepreneurs have been complaining for years, if not decades, about the lack of labour, especially for jobs that our fellow citizens no longer want to do. More than half a million are needed, according to a report by the Leone Moressa Foundation. The government's decree on flows provides for only 80,000, and on click day more than 240,000 applications arrived at the Home Office in the short span of a few hours. Foreign workers contribute 15% to the budget of Inps (Italian Social Security Institute, which provides the pensions of our elderly), much more than they receive in various benefits in return. And there are now 600,000 foreign entrepreneurs in the country.
The myth of "invasion" or, worse, "ethnic replacement" should also be debunked. Germany has twice as many foreigners, 10.4 million compared to our 5.2. We are roughly on a par with other large countries like France and Germany. We fall to ninth place in Europe in terms of percentage of the resident population (8.4 % compared with Austria's 16.6 %, which is first). Also, Italy is a country of transit. People come to leave. Asylum applications in 2021, the latest data available, show Germany in first place with 190,054, followed by France with 120,685, Spain with 65,295 and Italy with 53,610. Instead of turning them away, we should be asking them to stay.
Gigi Riva is a columnist for l'Espresso and a writer. He was editor of the Giornale di Vicenza and central editor of l'Espresso. For eighteen years he was a war correspondent in the Balkans and the Middle East for Il Giorno and l'Espresso. He has written several books, including one on the trafficking of young African footballers, entitled Non dire addio ai sogni (Mondadori). His latest book is Il più crudele dei mesi (Mondadori), a real-life novel about the first wave of the pandemic.
FREE ADMISSION BY RESERVATION
EXHIBITION
EVENTS
6.30 PM
MAST.AUDITORIUM
GIGI RIVA
IMMIGRANTS: WHY WE NEED THEM
WEEKEND AT MAST
VISIONS AT WORK
Films from around the world: trades and new professions
Over the weekends from March 4 to April 30, 2023, Fondazione MAST offers a series of 9 fiction films and 9 documentaries that address the themes of the exhibition MAST Photography Grant on Industry and Work / 2023 by tackling the changing world of work in all parts of the globe with a cosmopolitan and multifaceted vision.
The ancient trades that have survived to the present day and the new professions of the gig economy, the encounters between different cultures as a result of migration, the issues related to climate change and globalization, the rapid developments of technology in post-industrial society, the economic transformations: from Portugal to Argentina, from Bangladesh to Mauritania, the common denominator is the world of work with its struggles, contradictions, injustices, but also the seeds of hope, solidarity, and redemption. The work that has been, the work to come.
All films are in original language with Italian subtitles.
The program is organized in collaboration with Jennifer Baichwal, director together with Nicholas De Pencier of Anthropocene, The Human Epoch, Diana Sanchez, International Film Festival curator, and the Cineteca di Bologna.
FAMILY TOUR DAY
GUESSING THE WORLD
VISIT AND WORKSHOP ON THE EXHIBITION MAST PHOTOGRAPHY GRANT ON INDUSTRY AND WORK / 2023 AND SCREENING FROM THE ANIMATED VISIONS FROM THE WORLD FILM PROGRAM
FROM SUNDAY MARCH 5 TO SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2023
Every photograph can be seen as a collection of many details, each of which, like a jigsaw puzzle, shapes the image we see.
From 3 pm, a journey through the exhibition in search of clues and a workshop to stimulate the ability to observe and listen, to deepen one's knowledge of countries near and far. All this through images and sounds.
At the end, a snack will be offered at the Cafeteria.
For further information, contact the Gallery Team: workshop@fondazionemast.org - Tel. 342 7711557.
At 5 pm, a film from the Animated Visions from the World series will be screened, optional for Family Tour Day participants and bookable separately.
The activities are free of charge and must be booked in advance.
ANIMATED VISIONS FROM THE WORLD
ANIMATION MOVIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
FROM SUNDAY MARCH 5 TO SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2023
A series of screenings for children and teenagers that engages young and old in the viewing of animation movies from all over the world.
The event takes place on the occasion of Family Tour Day - which includes a visit to the exhibition and a workshop for youngsters and families - but is open to all visitors, by reservation.
In collaboration with Future Film Kids
EDUCATION
GUIDED TOURS
MAST PHOTOGRAPHY GRANT ON INDUSTRY AND WORK / 2023
Fondazione MAST is offering one-hour guided tours of the exhibition MAST Photography Grant on Industry and Work / 2023 (25 January 2023 – 1 May 2023), with free admission upon reservation, from Tuesday to Friday at 3 pm and 5 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and 5 pm.
For further information and bookings for groups of more than 15 people contact the Gallery Team:
workshop@fondazionemast.org - Tel. +39 342 7711557
FROM THE ARCHIVE
MAST stands for MANIFATTURA di ARTI, SPERIMENTAZIONE e TECNOLOGIA (ARTS, EXPERIENCE and TECHNOLOGY).
MANIFATTURA: the industrial identity of the district
ARTI: the highest forms of creative expression
SPERIMENTAZIONE:the practice at the heart of innovation
TECNOLOGIA: the application of techniques that can improve human life
The project was designed by STUDIO LABICS in ROME, which won an invited competition organized by G.D (COESIA group) in 2005, among the most renowned young Italian architecture firms. Two major pedestrian ramps, which extend from the core of the building to the main access, symbolize the close relationship between the Coesia industrial complex and the surrounding city, creating a metaphorical bridge between COESIA, the immediate city surroundings and the adjacent park. The building consists of two sections that stand next to each other, with large windows, glass features, and frames in steel. The original architectural design extends throughout the spaces occupied by the various services. A reflecting pool and landscaped garden complete the design, showing how the transformation of a former industrial space can revive an area on the outskirts, with company and community activities that make it a gathering place.
ANTEPRIMA, 2013
RA DI MARTINO
MAST.
An itinerary of images and sounds through the interior and exterior spaces of the MAST, this site specific video was realized by the artist Ra di Martino on the occasion of the opening.
director: Ra di Martino
performer viola da gamba: Rosa Helena Ippolito
cinematography: Alessandro Chiodo, Marco Martelli
sound: Enrico Ascoli
assistant director: Marcella Libonati
WHERE NEW INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRIAL PHOTOGRAPHY OFFER A CONTEXT FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ON INNOVATION AND THE WORLD OF WORK
The Gallery is a space where industry and the world of work are described along a journey punctuated by technological exhibits, videoart installations and photographic images.
The MAST Innovation Gallery is an area for experiential learning focused on technology and innovation. Starting from some of Coesia Group’s technical solutions, the hands-on, multimedia itinerary offers visitors the opportunity to experiment and develop new knowledge.
The MAST Photo Gallery is an exhibition space that hosts temporary shows of photography on industry and work. The exhibition programme presents thematic and monographic projects taken from the MAST Collection, which includes over 5000 works, or on loan from other archives, international institutions and private collections. Each exhibition is accompanied by a programme of talks, encounters with authors and other public figures of the world of photography, films and videos, workshops for children.
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WHERE ONGOING TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES OFFER COESIA EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUOUS GROWTH
At the Academy, the MAST Foundation proposes a variety of educational activities on the themes of technology and innovation, addressed to young people, local community - schools and companies – and to the collaborators of Coesia Group, in partnership with public institutions and other organisations.
The Academy occupies an entire wing of the MAST building comprising 8 classrooms of various dimensions, equipped with advanced technological systems.
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WHERE CONFERENCES, SCREENINGS AND ENCOUNTERS WITH PROMINENT FIGURES OF THE WORLD OF CULTURE CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVITY
The Auditorium seats 400 guests and hosts programmes of cultural events promoted by the Foundation or in collaboration with other institutions, conferences, meetings, Talks, lectures, screenings and concerts, generally related to the themes of the shows.
The acoustics was specifically designed so as to be adjustable according to the type of event. State of the art technological solutions are available for the most diverse occasions.
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WHERE A WARM ATMOSPHERE AND CULINARY EXPERIMENTATION CREATE A MEETING POINT FOR CULTURE, ART AND TECHNOLOGY
The Cafeteria is a convivial space available for guests of the Coesia Group, participants in Academy programs and visitors of the Gallery attending the various events.
This space, with a light and warm atmosphere, allows for social interaction. Three big bookcases dedicated to photography books are available for consultation.
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WHERE CHILDREN TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPS IN SOCIAL LEARNING AND BEGIN TO EXPRESS THEIR IMAGINATION
The MAST Nursery School is an educational centre offering an innovative, high quality cultural experience. Its pedagogical project is focused on experiential learning in relationship-driven environments.
The Nursery, which is open both to the children of COESIA employees and the local community, accepts children aged 3 to 36 months, divided into three classrooms. The School hosts two classrooms: 3/4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. 3/4-year-olds and 5-year-olds.
The MAST Nursery School works in partnership with Reggio Children, Cadiai Cooperative and Giannino Stoppani Cooperative.
INNOVATION AT THE NURSERY SCHOOL
The MAST Nursery School puts research and experimentation with innovative content and processes at the centre of its educational programme, by focusing on a multiplicity of cultural languages offered to the children:
The sense of beauty
The architecture and furnishings of the Nursery School, as well as the materials used in the children’s activities, are inspired by beauty as a cultural and relational element.
Books
Picture books are a crucial educational tool for fostering children’s imagination.
Play
Toys enrich children’s perceptive experiences. These objects can change their function and identity and convey new possibilities, ideas and emotions, turning into learning tools.
English Language
A bridge for creative ways of communicating, English language allows children to connect and play together by learning new words and sounds.
Ateliers
Ateliers are places where children explore, discover and experiment. The MAST Nursery School offers different ateliers such as: atelier of colour, of sound, of nature and vegetable garden.
WHERE THE PRINCIPLES OF MODERN NUTRITION BECOME AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTIVE AWARENESS
The Company Restaurant and the MAST.Wellness were designed as part of a unified project that integrates correct nutrition and physical activity. One of the driving values that inspire the project is the promotion of an idea of health connected to awareness, information and food culture in order to improve the quality of life.
The Company Restaurant for Coesia collaborators doesn’t simply offer meals, but it provides a place where the ingredients and their transformation into recipes respect the most recent dietary guidelines and are consistent with quality assurance indicators established by the Gruber Centre nutritionists who collaborate with MAST.
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WHERE INNOVATIVE FITNESS TECHNOLOGY MESHES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
The Wellness Center is dedicated to Coesia Group employees and is supplied and managed by Technogym, world leader in fitness equipment. It offers a variety of services based on a model of integrated and holistic well-being.
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