Association, 2014 events, purposes The Association “Comunali Oggi” is a reality at complete citizens’ disposal and promotes, for their leisure time, recreational events ranging among tourism, wine and food, culture and sport. In the social fabric for more than 30 years, it represents a benchmark for a lot of people and fosters capital values such as solidarity, treatment, freedom of expression, involvement and no-profit, safe handholds to find again that social cohesion our rich and welcoming territory deserves. So, our activity basically concerns human relationships and educational/recreational actions meant as synonyms of active community. “Comunali Oggi” proposes an interesting project where the wealth of artistic talents and a new usability of the inner cities of Mantova and province converge, on a festive background of peaceful sharing. The basis is a synergy between Municipalities and Association, a collaboration that produces a circuit of several events from Spring to Christmas time: ▪ “Mantova Folk Capital” Festival (from March to September - 22 events) ▪ “Gospel Songs” Festival (November/December - 6 events) Lively experiences, perfect moments of aggregation in order to revive that common wish to feel unique, authentic, and at the same time part of a community. This is the necessary intellectual and logistical fuel to bring people back to theaters and squares, inflaming once again the pride of belonging to one-of-a-kind communities. The purposes of such an initiative are various. Among them, there are undeniable benefits for the population, such as: - Increasing of opportunities of aggregation and improvement of life quality - Meeting with ancient or modern customs, traditions and art forms - Revival and promotion of Mantova’s social and cultural features The participating groups are requested no particular conditions, just to be collaborative, honest and punctual: ◦ They should carry typical wine and food products of their region of provenance, enough to arrange a dinner ◦ They will be offered board and lodging (agritourism, public buildings or hotels) for the weekend, until the return trip Mantova and its province, and their inner cities, are the ideal context to set the mentioned events: these latters can become annual permanent and colourful appointments with some of the noblest art forms. Visitors, participants and performers will be able to know and live a folklore experience in first person in fascinating old town centers, surrounded by beautiful ancient monuments or the decorated walls of a theater.

MANTOVA FOLK CAPITAL PROPOSAL TO FOLK GROUPS, ARTISTS, STREET THEATERS, BUSKERS, MUSICIANS... GENERAL SCHEDULE (WEEKEND) Friday Arrival in a province town and free lunch Fundraising evening: group introduction and dinner with their typical products Overnight stay in a local facility Saturday Breakfast Guided tour of the territory Lunch with typical mantuan menu Afternoon/evening: exhibition in the historical inner city of Mantova Sunday Departure and return home trip DATES: APRIL 5/6 - 12/ / /27 MAY 3/4 - 10/ / /25 JUNE 7/8 - 14/ / /29 JULY 5/6 - 12/ / /27 AUGUST 2/3 - 9/ / /31 SEPTEMBE R 6/7 - 13/14 The burning sun and the extreme heat of a hot summer day give place to the moon and the thin coolness of a starlit night, the worthy set for the show of the flair, of the magic, of the unpredictable. From Spring to the end of Summer, 22 events in the weekends from April to September, it is time for the artists to make the scene with the Festival dedicated to them. There are no words to describe the wonder that folk artists of any kind coming from every italian region, from buskers to professionals, from musicians to jugglers, from dancers to actors, as well as magicians and other performers, will be able to create for the viewers, with astonishing feats or with simplicity. The chance is unique and unmissable, squares and streets of Mantova light up with colors, the purest talent overfills city and people’s eyes, almost like they echo the great Medieval celebrations. The residents and the visitors gather together, sliding from show to show, without the nag of time, that seems like frozen. The inner city wakes up from the summer numbness and rediscovers its throbbing heart, while the activity of restaurants, pubs and public places merges with the entertainment and aggregation offered by the artistic performances.