Feature: Expo Milano 2015 to involve entire city for first time in world expositions' history

Given that 8.5 million tickets have been sold two months before the opening of Expo Milano 2015, Italy's Milan did well by involving the entire city in the event for the first time in the history of world expositions.

"Expo in citta" (Expo in the city), a project created by the municipality of Milan and Milan Chamber of Commerce, already gathers as many as more than 17,000 appointments during the Expo Milano 2015, which runs from May 1 to Oct. 31, and is keeping growing.

A PROJECT WITH GRASSROOTS SPIRIT

"The principle of the project is to offer visitors of the world exposition the unique experience of all kinds of events for all tastes everywhere in Milan," Claudio Artusi, coordinator of Expo in citta, told journalists during a presentation held earlier this week at the Milan Foreign Press Association.

It means that before or after visiting the Expo Milano 2015, which like other world expositions of the past takes place in a confined space, for the first time visitors will be able to enjoy a sort of parallel, overwhelming expo throughout the host city, he said.

Expo in citta, Artusi explained, manages an online catalogue of the public and private locations available for events in Milan and offers support in obtaining authorizations and permits, such as occupation of public land.

"Our platform does not provide financial intermediation, but puts in contact event organizers with location owners and stimulates matching with potential partners or sponsors," he said. Those events considered to be in line with the expo's spirit are given the Expo in citta logo and are promoted internationally.

The uniqueness of the project was appreciated by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), which Artusi said "is considering the inclusion of this approach into protocols for next expos."

CULTURE MEANS ENTERTAINMENT

The Expo in citta events are both cultural and recreational, many specifically created for children, and feature 10 categories: performance, art, media, creativity and style, Leonardo, kids, science, well-being, world city and feed the planet.

Organizers were enthusiastic about the calendar as of March, that can be enriched with new events until Oct. 29, because "we want Milan to be a world city of relations and inclusivity," Milan Culture Councillor Filippo Del Corno highlighted.

Among the most important events already on schedule, Milan will feature the biggest exhibition ever organized in Italy of Leonardo da Vinci with works of the Renaissance icon borrowed from Italian and international museums.

Another exhibition will be dedicated to Giotto, the Florentine painter who revolutionized the depiction of figure in the 1300s, with three of his masterpieces on loan.

International artists from avant-garde to today will represent the theme of motherhood that most of all embodies the idea of nutrition, central theme of Expo Milano 2015, in an exhibition, "The Great Mother," gathering over 80 works of the 20th century.

Music will be central, Del Corno added, with extraordinary programs at Teatro alla Scala, that for the first time will stay open in August with a total of 140 spectacles during the six-month expo, and Piccolo Teatro, which will perform in many languages including English, Chinese and Greek.

"Milan will be a stage open to everybody," the assessor went on saying. Duomo Square, in the heart of Milan, will host classic and pop concerts free of charge, while public spaces in the city from parks to trams will be animated by countless music performances, book fairs, street markets and thematic events including many dedicated to water.

MARKED PRESENCE OF CHINA

Being the Expo Milano 2015 an international event, different cultures of the world will be given special attention, organizers highlighted.

Del Corno told Xinhua he was in Shanghai last month to introduce the Expo in citta initiative to local authorities. "Expo Milano 2015, which has taken over the baton of Expo Shanghai 2010, will be an important occasion to present China's culture to the world," he said.

Del Corno added a series of Chinese events are on schedule during the Italian world exposition, including a Chinese contemporary art exhibition at the expo site and a pavilion dedicated to China in a central area of Milan.

"We are discussing its location in these days," he told Xinhua. Milan hosts one of the most influential Chinese communities in Europe and the Chinese pavilion in the city, which adds to one national pavilion and two corporate pavilions at the expo site, will be a key meeting point for cultural and entrepreneurial exchanges, the assessor noted.

A special welcome has been designed by the international airport of Milan Malpensa for the expected around one million of visitors from China during the expo. "The so-called Magic Threshold, an area of the airport which embodies the gateway to Milan, will be dedicated to Chinese artists to make Chinese visitors feel a bit at home here," Del Corno said.

ENHANCED SECURITY IN MILAN

Security will be a central issue given the intensive program of events and the expected presence of about 20 million people from all over the world during the Expo Milano 2015.

The recent terrorist attacks in France have prompt alarm in Italy, where terrorism menace has become a frequent topic after international reports raised concern that Islamic fundamentalists may see neighboring Italy as a next target.

Local authorities, however, said Milan has the means to face the expo challenge. Not only Milan is the host city of big events such as international fairs, the Fashion Week and Design Week that attract flows of visitors from all over the world every year, but is used to opening its public spaces.

"Few cities in the world have the same capacity of managing the use of the entire city," Artusi explained. Regarding the world exposition the only difference, he went on saying, is that the effort will have to be made for six consecutive months instead of a few days.

A total of 60 million euros (66 million U.S. dollars) have been allocated by the Italian government for security to the Milan municipality, which will work closely with central authorities to assure the full success of the much-awaited event, Del Corno concluded. Endit