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Ravenna 2019
A brief overview of developments sub-divided into the two main phases: A. initial competition against 20 other Italian cities; B. after being short-listed, preparation for the final bid
Main website:http://www.ravenna2019.eu/en/
Ravenna – Bid book: culture of mosaics
http://www.ravenna2019.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2019_dossier-EN_COMPLETO_LOW.pdf
15.November 2013
Ravenna was selected as one of the five cities out of 21 to be short listed. Consequently they developed further their bid book with the key theme being 'culture of mosaics'.
The announcement was made on 15th of November 2013 / "Ravenna é nella short list delle Città Candidate a Capitale Europea della Cultura 2019", 15 nov 2013.
After this annoucement, there appeared a series of articles in the local press. One of the main concerns being expressed was about the level of professionalism. Also other issues were named such as the need to verify the administrative procedures in reality. Linked to that is what was aired in comments to article 2 in the list below, namely that
Here just a sample of articles from www.ravennanotizie.it
1) http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=70372
2) http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=70557
This article plus comments expresses some crititism about a tender which was given to some outside company, and this without the usual precedures for public projects. Implied is that the legal way of public procurement when any public department or sector is involved, was not observed. Such hints at irregularities are crucial as they do have an impact upon how a city is appraised when making the final bid.
3) http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=70622
On Ravenna's candidacy as European Capital of Culture 2019:
4)http://ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=70059
2014
There were invited as consultants:
Kathrin Deventer from the strategic group "A Soul Of Europe" promoting culture as the engine towards European integration,and Peter Neilson (ex-mayor of Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008)
N.B.: some of the comments following the article talk about the inadequacy of Alberto Cassani and his appointment as Coordinator. There is mentioned the complaint that the decision was totally politically based since linked to the PD local political group.
In the following link: Peter Nielsen is formally appointed as consultant to help the Ravenna project team with Alberto Cassani as co-ordinator of Ra2019 and Nadia Carbon as project manager for Ravenna 2019.
In the following links:
The Mayor tells 18 year olds that if Ravenna wins, the parking issues will be dealt with (...doesnt mention how) and there will be a new park in Bosco Baronio, the biggest in the town ( as a matter of fact Ravenna has very few parks and green areas in comparison to other towns and cities).
http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=73958
http://ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=71865
The British Ambassador was in town:
http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=73897
18 March 2014
Ravenna officially in the short list of candidates for the European Cultural Capital according to the Italian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The list was adopted and approved on the 18th of March 2014 with the recomnended list by the examining jury of those cities short listed to run for the European Cultural Capital title: Cagliari, Lecce, Matera, Perugia, Ravenna and Siena.
The next deadline for presenting their presentations will be Monday 8 Sept 2014, by 17:00.
http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=73675
Important are some of the comments for they provide an indication as to the level of public debate, and indirectly whether or not the local population stands behind the bid.
March 2014 - survey / telephone interviews
Local participation came down to the level if people feel being really involved.
Points raised by Beppe Grillo's 5 stelle Counsellor Santarella:
The Ravenna people have always been generously present. Latest example the turnout in the 2 day event „Agira“, brainstorming laboratory for Ravenna 2019 open to the Ravenna citizens where they can offer ideas as to how the Ravenna candidacy can be improved upon and which can lead to the creation of cultural-artistic events.
However, Counsellor Santarella points out, that the Administration have demonstrated once more to be hostile to any kind of public questioning, refusal to listen to its people and their complaints. Just as in the case of several town requalification projects and notwithstanding the manifestations of its citizens and students that have been asking for new areas for its youth and not only high-rise buildings and ugly commercial centers. Unfortunately the response by the Town hall administrators has always been the same: We have been elected and as such start adapting.“
http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=73637
Note: These "agora" events have been filled up by all those currently unemployed (or apprentices working for free) and students have been nothing but a waste of time due to the lack of organisation and substance. so much so that most participants left earlier as were expected to wait around doing nothing.
From the 15th of March 2014 onwards, 500 people (over 16 years of age) will be contacted by phone by the town hall and they ll be asked to answer a questionnaire made up of 10 questions. Interested parties may also consult the questionnaire online ((www.agendadigitaleravenna.it), the townhall's (www.comune.ra.it), Ravenna 2019 (www.ravenna2019.eu) and facebook and twitter of the towhall
http://www.ravennanotizie.it/main/index.php?id_pag=23&id_blog_post=73279
Examples of questions:
How do you think Ravenna will do in its candidacy and what in your opinion are its strengths for winning?
This way the townhall's administrators want to examine the knowledge and awareness of the Ravenna people in terms of the chosen direction of its candidacy and its impact on the local economy, tourism, employment and life, to measure the temperature and sentiment of the town particularly in view of the fact that Ravenna has been shortlisted. The Survey is carried out and managed by the Townhall's Human Resources and Quality Dept. together with the Ravenna 2019 staff which will monitor the results.
Judging by the prelimenary study made about attitudes and degree of support, the method of telephone interviews suggests a rather superficial approach to participation was adopted. For real involvement entails much more than expressing a mere opinion within a random sample of those reached by phone. If it would have been the only real contact with the general population, it would amount to a kind of strange way to solicit support (when compared with what was done in Matera's case basing a lot on volunteers and active youth using the web).
In case of failure, Plan B
The following article
talks aside from the need to involve the whole city starting from its citizens already about the need to have a Plan B (if the city does not succed) in place. Assurance is sought that the city will continue, for example, some of its intended cultural program and especially undertakes something so as to avoid the creation of a public sentiment of exclusion and hostility towards Europe. This latter aspect is quite important. Request was also made to keep politics aside.
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