The reality in which we live today puts us in daily touch with different cultures that are unknown to us to a considerable extent. It was with this consideration in mind and the wish to supply the public with ways to approach and mutually understand “different” people that “ On the Way to New Cultures ” started out in July 2001. This is the name of the project drawn up by the cultural bureau of the Department of Italian Culture for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/South Tyrol (Italy).
On the one hand, there is the attempt to tell people about the most special cultural and artistic aspects of the ‘new’ cultures: ‘new’ because they are still not very well known to us, but old in terms of history and civilisation. On the other hand, there is also the intention to investigate the signs of the ‘new cultures’ taking shape in our present, fruits of the convergence and interaction between our civilisation and other ones. This then is the double meaning within the project title.
The support given by the European Commission to “On the Way to New Cultures” since its beginning underlines its significance and importance.
The project development, constantly in progress, ranges from exhibitions to performances, movies, conferences and musical moments in order to offer a many-sided view, as wide ranging as is possible, of the cultures taken into consideration. After the beginning dedicated to South Africa, for reasons of nearness and actuality, a series of events was proposed dedicated to the Arab/Islamic area, a choice that acquired even greater significance and priority after the events of September 11 th.
It was then the turn of the Jewish culture, of Iran and of Russia. In 2005 Central Asia and its eastern (Pakistan) and western neighbours (Turkey) were investigated, then the project moved towards India (2006) and China (2007).
Some of these experiences are collected in books so they can endure in time.
The first scientific consultant of “On the Way to New Cultures” was professor Pier Giovanni Donini (Istituto Universitario Orientale of Naples); after his demise, scientific supervision was carried on by professor Mario Nordio (University of Venice).

The events
	June 27th - 28th, 2008 The cultural future International conference at the Trevi Centre of Bolzano More info
	October 19 th to November 24 th, 2007 Cina – West of California Photo exhibitions, meetings, movies More info
	October 20 th to November 17th, 2006 India: the ancient roots of the future Conferences and movies More info
	06-16.10.2005 Crossing space and time: Turkey Where Europe and Asia meet More info
	February 19th – March 19th, 2005 Crossing between space and time. Central Asia and Pakistan Photo exhibition, reportage, meetings More info
	January 28th, 2005 Beyond the Threshold: Iran’s Culture, Art and History Book presentation More info
	December 7th, 2004 Stories of Magi and of Kurds Conferences More info
	September 27th, 2004 Cycle “Star Orbit” Hodu le-Adonai ki tov Jewish Song Guided listening and conference More info
	May 13th - 14th, 2004 Cycle “Russia” Russia: the Orthodoxy Conferences More info
	February 20th - March 25th, 2004 Rosengarten-Golestan: IRAN Culture Art History Exhibitions, conferences, film projections More info
	January 22nd, 2004 Cycle “Star Orbit” Itineraries between Jewish Culture and Community in South Tyrol Jewish Culture Day More info
	October 2nd, 2003 Arabian Nights. A Journey through the Oriental Imagination Theatre evening with the collaboration of Teatro Stabile di Bolzano More info
	March 7th - 28th, 2003 Under the Sign of Aldebaran. Islam and Science Exhibition, deepening meetings More info
	December 2nd – 6th, 2002 The Other Shore Arab movies review More info
	May 10th - 17th – 24th – 31st, 2002 The Other Shore Cycle of conference More info
	February 8th – March 12th, 2002 Passport to South Africa. Contemporary South African Art Exhibition and short films review More info
	Juli 26th - 27th, 2001 Dervishes Conference and performance More info
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