First Global Forum On The Economic Impact Of The Arts 

To Be Held In Florence - November 18 – 20

"Florens 2010. International Forum on Cultural Heritage and Landscape" will take place in Florence from November 18-20. It is an event conceived by Giovanni Gentile, President of Florence Confindustria (Florentine branch of the main organisation representing Italian manufacturing and services companies) and the Promotion Committee of Florens 2010 including: Intesa Sanpaolo (leading Italian banking group of European scale), Banca Cassa di Risparmio of Florence (a major Florentine bank), Florence Confindustria, CNA Firenze (Florentine branch of the National Federation of Crafts and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises). 

The first International Week on Cultural Heritage and Landscape will feature 30 meetings, 10 exhibitions, 150 events and the International Forum organized in collaboration with The European House-Ambrosetti, under the Patronage of the Presidency of the Italian Republic and the sponsorship of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Land, Sea and the Environment, the Tuscany Region, the Province of Florence, the City of Florence and UNESCO.

The Forum will bring together for the first time a stellar group of business leaders, museum directors, politicians, architects, professors and journalists for discussions ranging from "Cultural Heritage and Landscape for Economic Development" and "Culture for Development in Emerging Countries."

Russell Bishop of the Huffington Post will write a live blog on the proceedings, which can followed on the website www.huffingtonpost.com

It is expected that 300 participants from 27 countries will participate including the Ministers of Culture and Information for Bahrain and South Africa, the directors of the American Folk Art Museum, Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, Acropolis Museum of Athens, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis; Mayors from Boston, Curitiba, Brazil, and Florence; the Secretary General of Istanbul 2010,and business leaders from Christie's and Intesa San Paolo.

As part of the Forum, The European House - Ambrosetti, will release the findings of a study on the economic impact of the arts in eight countries.  This study will be made available after the conference by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For further information: Mary Frances Duffy/The Dilenschneider Group/212-922-0900
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