03>05 JULY 2025

From Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 July, Legacoop Sicilia, in collaboration with the University of Palermo and the Sicilian Region, is promoting three days of dialogue and discussion on cooperative values, including talks, performances, workshops and tastings. Decreasing important themes on cooperatives as drivers of development, culture, inclusion and sustainability; comparing experiences from North to South, evaluating opportunities - starting from the ideas offered by Sicily, European Region of Gastronomy 2025 -, looking increasingly at the Mediterranean as a place of dialogue and effective exchanges. In the international year of Cooperatives, in which Legacoop Sicilia celebrates its first eighty years of life, and Legacoop CulTurMedia, its first five years, MADRÈA also begins a path of approach to the Biennial of National Cooperation.

Thursday 3 July starts at 10 am at the Botanical Garden with the focus on Sicily, European Region of Gastronomy 2025. After the institutional greetings of Legacoop in the presence of the mayor Roberto Lagalla, the regional councilor for Productive Activities Edy Tamajo, the president of the Chamber of Commerce Alessandro Albanese and the rector Massimo Midiri, the talk will open with the participation of Salvatore Barbagallo (regional councilor for Agriculture), Paolo Inglese (Unipa), Vincenzo Russo (IULM), Gianpiero Calzolari, who will bring the Granarolo experience, and Sara Guidelli of Legacoop Agroalimentare.

On Friday 4 July the focus will shift to “Culture to combat educational poverty and social cohesion”, Nuccia Albano (regional councillor for Family and Social Policies), Giuseppe Fiolo (LegacoopSociali Sicilia), Anna Vettigli (national vice-president LegacoopSociali) and Fabrizio Ferrandelli (municipal councillor for Social Policies) will speak about it, as will Serena Citrolo, head of Cooperativa Solidarietà and Antonella Di Bartolo, principal of IC Sperone-Pertini. On the role of cultural cooperatives, the regional councillor for Education Girolamo Turano and the superintendent of the Opera di Roma, Francesco Giambrone, will discuss with various exponents of cultural “resilience” in the area, between different experiences and new realities, young independent bookshops, recently formed cooperatives. Moderator Giovanna Barni, president of CulTurMedia. At 3 pm the workshop “Use of Artificial Intelligence for Management Processes”, created in collaboration with the Danilo Dolci Institute, named after the activist who was among the first to have faith in the grassroots strength of cooperatives. At 4:30 pm the signing of a collaboration protocol between the Cna and the entities that deal with social housing. At 7 pm the superintendent of the Teatro Massimo Marco Betta, Giampiero Cannella, councilor for Culture, Leonardo di Franco head of the Academy of Fine Arts, Marcantonio Ruisi of UNiPa and Giovanna Barni president of CulTurMedia, will discuss the infinite possibilities of culture to create a workforce and an active and thinking community in the territory.

Saturday 5 July. The focus shifts to 360-degree cooperation, also looking at the next Legacoop Biennale directed by Roberto Negrini. After the presentation of the book “80 years: a love that continues” edited by Emanuele Sanfilippo and Filippo Parrino, we will talk about Europe, the Mediterranean and the global challenges opened by the new scenarios also linked to the political situation of the countries overlooking the Mare Nostrum; with examples of companies that invest in international markets such as Granarolo and Rapitalà. Expected, among others, the vice president of the European Parliament Pina Picierno, the director of Svimez Luca Bianchi, the president of Legacoop nazionale Simone Gamberini and of Legacoop Lombardia Attilio Dadda.

During the three days, events, guided tours, workshops for children, tastings of cooperative products are planned. In addition, author talks and shows:

- Friday 4 July at 5.15 pm, Dario Fabbri, journalist and director of the magazine “Domino” will lead the public in an analysis of the current international scenarios, including new geopolitical tensions, open conflicts and the rise of populism. At 9 pm, the duo Mammadimerda arrives in Palermo for the first time with a show that manages to investigate the stereotypes of motherhood in an ironic and lightning-fast way.

- Saturday 5 July, at 7 pm Lorenzo Tondo, journalist and correspondent for The Guardian, will narrate his experience between conflicts and borders; at 8 pm the masterclass on the preparation of couscous in collaboration with the Cous cous fest of San Vito Lo Capo; it closes at 9:30 pm with the vintage pop soul of the Swingrovers.

Info on www.coopculture.it