A journey from Topolo to Abitanti

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This project is going to reproduce in Abitanti the successful experiences of Topolo, that is to say planning the village renovation and enliven the cultural life of the village. For the last ten years, in summer, Topolo has hosted the event “Stazione Topolo”, which has seen the participation of international artists. This event has set up a thick network of contacts with centres and towns all over the world, in order to enhance the rural village. Over the last decade, thanks to the active contribution provided by the EU funds, some houses have been renovated, and Topolo has become an attractive tourist destination. Topolo and Abitanti have several elements in common: they are close to the border between two countries: the former is close to the border between Italy and Slovenia, the latter between Slovenia and Croatia. Both of them have been affected by a harsh crisis: Topolo after the Second World War, and Abitanti over the last twenty years. Both of them have responded by enlivening their villages through cultural activities (“Stazione Topolo” and the spring painters’ colony in Abitanti). The project is carried out through several stages: Abitanti hosts a workshop on the renovation and enlivening of the Slovenian village; Topolo, in turn, plays host to the post-production of the material gathered during the workshop and to the planning of the web site; meeting with a group of Slovenian architects and presentation of the material gathered in Abitanti; publishing of a “travel journal”, which collects the experiences of the Slovenian and Italian participants (a CD is enclosed); “Stazione Topolo” hosts the representatives of Abitanti cultural associations and the joint exhibition “Immages from Abitanti and Topolo”.

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