Civil Society Organizations at Milan Expo 2015
The open Meeting of the General Council of Fondazione Triulza, the network of Third Sector organizations managing the Civil Society Organizations’ Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015, was held today in Milan. In addition to Fondazione Triulza’s President Sergio Silvotti, also Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Maurizio Martina, Fondazione Cariplo’s President Giuseppe Guzzetti, the Mayor of Milan Giuliano Pisapia, the President of Lombardy’s Regional Council Raffaele Cattaneo, as well as the Regional Counselor and Milan Expo 2015 Commissioner Fabrizio Sala, addressed those in attendance.
They took stock of the two years of work that have led to the successful organization of the Civil Society Organizations’ Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015, and the launch of the Laboratory of Ideas for the development of a post-Expo 2015 agenda of tangible actions delivering measurable impact that civil society organizations are called upon to fulfill. These were the messages shared with representatives from governments and other institutions, the organizations that are members of Fondazione Triulza and all the other organizations that are participating in the program of events at this Pavilion.
Maurizio Martina, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, with delegated authorities for Milan Expo 2015 said: "For the first time in the history of Universal Expositions, there is a prominent presence of civil society organizations. This one, too, is an achievement we have attained with Milan Expo, and we must be aware and proud of it. Having over 140 organizations testifying to the extraordinary work of Italy’s Third Sector organizations shouldn’t and cannot to be played down. It deserves special attention. The work done over these past two years is a model of participatory planning that is going to bear fruit also after the six months of the Exhibition. More than 750 events will be held at Cascina Triulza. And these organizations will contribute to bring to fruition the pledges of the Charter of Milan on the human right to food. We are aware that living up to the challenge of increasingly responsible citizenship is the leading legacy of the Milan Universal Exposition."
An innovative project for Expo 2015
The completion of works at Cascina Triulza by the inauguration date has been the first result attained through the commitment of Civil Society organizations that responded to the call and are now present for the first time ever at a Universal Exposition. This result was attained thanks to the effort made by the over 60 organizations making up Fondazione Triulza that by joining forces magnified their resources. Their joint effort has led to the development of a program featuring 750 events over the six months of Milan Expo 2015, with more than 80 organizations presenting events, 41 organizations showing their projects in the exhibition area and 18 others handling activities for children. The Market at Cascina Triulza will host some 200 international and local producers. 300 municipal administrations that are part of the Association of Italian Municipal Administrations (ANCI) contributed to bring them there. Activities at the Civil Society Pavilion will turn the spotlight on artists and young people through the participation of designers, PhD students, emerging artists, and youths involved in volunteer service in various events.
All this with total funds of €3,481,000 gathered from exhibitors (€1,070,000), sponsors (€1,309,000), organizations participating in the Market at Cascina Triulza (€850,000) and other sources (€252,000). Expenditures aggregate to €3,384,000. This means Fondazione Triulza has a balanced budget.
After Milan Expo 2015
The Laboratory of Ideas kicked off today by Fondazione Triulza will develop an agenda of actions with well-defined timeframes, clearly-set frameworks and measurable outcome, based on the alliances built up with all players in the field, including the governments and institutions with which Fondazione Triulza has accredited itself over these past two years of work: the Milan Municipal Administration, agencies of the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Lombardy Regional Council and Italy’s national Parliament.
How Cascina Triulza - the building complex owned by the Milan Municipal Administration hosting the Civil Society Organizations’ Pavilion - is going to be used after the end of the Universal Exposition is part of the legacy of the exhibition.
The strength of the Cascina Triulza project lies in the practical, consistent approach typical of Civil Society organizations. From the very beginning of the work for Expo 2015, Fondazione Triulza has not asked for derogations from rules, but it set the rules and complied with them through the end, through sound, effective management of finances, activities and the cultural program. Cascina Triulza offers a well-structured, defined program that can still accommodate further activities proposed by participating organizations, providing a comprehensive view of the theme of focus for Civil Society organizations at the Universal Exposition: Energies to change the world.