The International Feast of the History. A concrete project for the dissemination of history and heritage

Objectives. The International Centre of methodology for teaching history and heritage (DiPaSt) of the Educational Faculty of University of Bologna is a meeting-place for the study and teaching of history and cultural heritage. In particular, it aims to encourage the sharing of terminology, methods, practices and tools used in various places and countries. The Centre collects and utilizes the wide range of experience, research, projects and activities that have taken place during recent years at a national and international level in the teaching of history and cultural heritage and in different sectors such as archives, libraries, museums, art galleries and other relevant cultural institutions. Methods. An ancient Canadian proverb says that parents must give two things to their children: the roots and the wings. The DiPaSt, the Department of History and Anthropology and Geography, together with local organizations and schools have promoted a project “The roots to flying: the protagonists of history”. Is it acceptable that the roots could be used to fly? And what does it mean: what are the connections with history and its teaching? The metaphors we use are often excessive or they oversimplify, but in this case the expression is really appropriate. Today globalization and migration make it necessary to redefine the idea of citizenship which means to recognize that we are all part of one humanity and one planet. The roots to flying means to understand, to create, to be as far as possible an agent of our own future, and to learn that each person is like a stratification, a sedimentation of knowledge and active participants of collective events of history. Each schools adopts a particular monument or a topic such as canals, roads, towers or churches. Then, at the end of the school year, students are brought together in a prominent public building and exchange the knowledge they have acquired. The International Feast of History represents the last confluence of all these initiatives that were carried during the previous year with teachers and students. Is not a “festival”, a collection of people who come from out of the city, but a “feast” because was born in the city, with the city’s resources. Results. What does this “Feast” consist of? Conferences, roundtables, shows, concerts and exhibitions held in palaces, squares, streets, churches, cloisters of Bologna and the surrounding area. The Feast is not only dominated from renowned experts, but a special feature is the role of schools, universities, cultural institutions and associations that exhibit what have been acquired during research activities carried out during the years, emphasizing the history of the city and the region or focusing on major historical themes. The wealth of history is that the food made history, art made history, sport made history, music made history, everything surrounding us made history. Conclusions. In the last Feast over three hundred events were held in a week. The “Feast” is a concrete project of dissemination of the history that has developed a greater sense of belonging, more respect of the city and an important cultural tourism.