Cal State’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Florence mayor Dario Nardella, deputy mayor Cristina Giachi and US Consul General Abigail Rupp, along with the directors of the CSU International Programs and the Accademia delle Belli Arti, will preside over an April 26 Palazzo Vecchio ceremony (Salone dei Cinquecento, 9:30 pm) featuring speeches, videos and music to mark the 50th anniversary of the California State University campus in Florence.
Guided visits in English of the Church of SS Annunziata, the square, the Innocenti Institute complex and the Archeological Museum by CSU students will follow between 3 and 5 pm (reservations necessary; email to c.perkins@csufirenze.it.
Celebrations continue at CSU (via Leopardi 12) on April 27 with Architecture Day, comprising a symposium and show of student projects (9 am – 6 pm). The afternoon also brings the social sciences conference “Europe and the USA: Perspectives on the New Transatlantic Relations at the Beginning of the Trump Administration” (4 – 6:30 pm).
The public is invited to all festivities. Below is the full program.
Wednesday, April 26, 3 – 5:30 pm
Location/meeting point: at 15:00 in front of the Foundling Hospital
Guided Visits offered: Piazza and Church of Santissima Annunziata, Foundling Hospital (Ospedale degli Innocenti) and Archaeological Museum
Tours in English guided by CSU Italy Architecture, Art History and History & Classics students
NOTE: Reservations required – contact: c.perkins@csufirenze.it
Max participants: 25 for each tour
6:30 – 9 pm: Grand Opening – Welcome to CSU
Location: California State University, Via G. Leopardi 12, Aula Magna
6:30 pm: Welcome by Kevin Fagan and Leo Van Cleve
7 pm: Italian Language Presentation – Reading of the fairy tale “la ragazza mela” by Italo Calvino
7:30 pm: CSU Architecture Exhibition “Unframed” and Art Show “Arte per Arte”
Cocktail Reception – CSU Terrace and Garden
Thursday, April 27 – Festivities Continue, 9 am – 6:30 pm
Location: California State University, Via G. Leopardi 12, Aula Magna
9 am – 1 pm: Architecture Day – “The early years”
Architecture Education at CSU Florence: symposium
1 – 3 pm: Refreshments /Light lunch buffet at CSU – Aula Magna
3 – 6 pm: Architecture Day continues – Aula Magna
Symposium – “Teaching Architecture in Florence”
3 – 4:30 pm: Literature & Italian Studies Presentations – Aula 2
“Freedom of Expression” – Reading and Performance
4:30 – 6 pm: History & Classics Presentations/Exhibition – Aula 2 & upstairs lobby
History & Classics in Florence: students’ experiences, works and activities
Exhibition: “Etruscan and Roman Art & Architecture”
4 – 6:30 pm: Social Science Conference – Aula 1
“Europe and the USA: Perspectives on the New Transatlantic Relations at the Beginning of the Trump Administration”
Friday, April 28 – Gran Finale, 10 am – 7:30 pm
Regional Council of Tuscany (Consiglio Regionale della Toscana)
Location: via Cavour 4 , 1st floor, Sala Gonfalone
10 am: Welcome by Regional Council of Tuscany
10:15 am – 12 noon: Conference – Art & Language Study in Florence
Participants: Eugenio Giani, Leo Van Cleve, Kevin Fagan, Eugenio Cecioni, Martino Margheri, Gloria Venturini, Marsha Steinberg, Cassidy Austin and Caroline Contreras
Palazzo Strozzi
Location: Piazza degli Strozzi, Piano Nobile, Sala Education
6:30 – 7:30 pm: Bill Viola Project “Appropriation”
Presentation of artworks created by CSU Studio Art students and interviews by CSU Florence Art History students.
All exhibitions both will remain open through Thursday, May 4 with the following hours: Mon. – Thurs. 9 am – 1 pm/3- 5 pm, Fri. 9 am -12 noon
For more details, more information or to sign-up for guided tours, contact: c.perkins@csufirenze.it.
