In the spring of 2011, Cremona applied to have its tradition of violin making included in UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, officially launching the initiative Cremona for UNESCO. The entire city - its institutions and citizens - was informed of the project and worked to promote it. Particularly significant in this regard were the statements of support and petitions of consent signed by institutions, instrument makers, teachers and students of the International School of Violin Making, private citizens, as well as the Lombardy Region. Among the many distinguished applications for this recognition, Cremona was the only one selected from Italy in 2012. On 5 December 2012, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage unanimously voted to include Cremona's violin making know-how in the Representative List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
This is a great result for Cremona and its territory, for its centuries-old tradition of violin making, and especially for all those people who worked over the years on this demanding and exacting endeavour, which required both knowledge and passion. At a time when so many displays of excellence vie for the world stage, Cremona acted with the determination of its people in advancing the prestige of a tradition that has characterized it for centuries in order to preserve it and to pass it on to future generations. Furthermore, the city aspired to see this tradition recognized by UNESCO not only as an Italian heritage, but one of all humanity. After this historic decision, Cremona's violin making know-how characterizes our city to an even greater extent around the world and is a national source of pride.
6 окт 2024
