The Board of Directors of the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, met today in the presence, for the first time, of the new Board member Adriano Rasi Caldogno,  appointed by the Ministry for the Cultural Heritage and Activities. Adriano Rasi Caldogno will be replacing the resigning member Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele.

 

The Board of Directors examined the preliminary consolidated results for the year 2012, which are aligned with the planned budget.

 

It therefore approved the start of the 4th International Kids’ Carnival, entitled Il Leon Musico/The Musical Lion this year and dedicated to “experimentation, tradition and creativity”, which will take place from 2 to 12 February 2013 (a press conference will be held in mid-January for the presentation).

 

Several changes were then approved to the Regulations of the Venice International Film Festival. In particular, the number of members of the Juries was increased, and is now set at 9 for the Jury for the Competition for the Golden Lion, 7 for the Jury of Orizzonti and 7 for the Jury of the “Luigi De Laurentiis” Award for a Debut Film. Two new prizes have been introduced for the Orizzonti section: the Orizzonti Award for Best Director and the Special Orizzonti Award for Innovative Content. The introduction of the “Venezia Classici” section has been formalized, a section dedicated to restored films and to documentaries about cinema, which appeared in the past edition of the Venice Film Festival. The Board of Directors also acknowledged the start of the Biennale College – Cinema, and the advancement into phase two, as work begins with the 15 teams in the selection.

 

The Board of Directors also acknowledged the works currently underway or soon to begin at the Arsenale and in the area of the Sale d’Armi, consequent to the agreement with the United Arab Emirates and with South Africa, and the negotiations underway with Turkey and with the Vatican, regarding their participation in the Biennale in this Sale d’Armi.

 

Finally, the Board of Directors proceeded, for the Theatre Sector, to extend the appointment of Director Àlex Rigola for the two-year period 2014-2015.

 

For the Dance Sector, after acknowledging to splendid work done over the past 8 years by Ismael Ivo, in particular with the Arsenale della Danza, which has become a point of reference in Europe for excellence in training, the Board of Directors has appointed Virgilio Sieni as Director for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

 

“Virgilio Sieni, explained President Baratta, has been developing a highly intense and personal research process in the field of Dance for many years, and apart from his recognized talent as a choreographer, he is esteemed for his commitment and dedication to educational activities, and for his experimental spirit enriched by his many interests in other disciplines. As the Arsenale della Danza continues within the Biennale College, he will have the opportunity to bring a significant contribution to its further development and growing standing, and become a valuable guide”.

 

On his part, Virgilio Sieni has stated: “I hope to share a process based on practices understood as a stimulus to creation and fruition, focusing attention on the meaning of performance as a form of the living that calls upon us to listen, opening the doors to the unknown. For me the Biennale represents the clearing that is enriched with acceptance, focusing intensely on the body as the measure and poetic nourishment of man”.