Istituto Italiano di Cultura New York

Istituto Italiano di Cultura New York Official Profile | Italian Cultural Institute of New York
A home for Italian culture, open to all who love it

Founded in 1961, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York is an office of the Italian government, dedicated to the promotion of Italian language and culture in the United States through the organization of cultural events. Under the guidance of its trustees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its advisory board, and its staff, the Italian Institute of Culture of New York conforms to this commitm

ent by fostering the cultural exchange between Italy and the US in a variety of areas, from the arts to the humanities to science. Central to the Italian Cultural Institute’s mission is a constant effort to encourage the understanding and enjoyment of Italian culture by organizing and promoting cultural events in collaboration with the most prominent academic and cultural institutions of the East Coast. The Italian Cultural Institute of New York focuses on the development of initiatives aimed at showcasing Italian excellence in various fields, such as science, technology, the arts and design. The development of academic exchanges, the organization and support of visual arts exhibitions, the grants for translation and publication of Italian books, the promotion of Italian studies, and the cooperation with local institutions in planning various events that focus on Italian music, dance, cinema, theater, architecture, literature, philosophy etc., are just a few examples of the Institute’s initiatives. In conclusion, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York provides an “open window” on the cultural and social aspects of past and current Italy.

⚓️ Pride, history, and friendship across the Atlantic.Connected live from aboard the Amerigo Vespucci, Commander Nicasio...
06/16/2026

⚓️ Pride, history, and friendship across the Atlantic.

Connected live from aboard the Amerigo Vespucci, Commander Nicasio Falica shared with the audience of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York directed by Claudio Pagliara the excitement of the crew as the world’s most beautiful ship prepares to arrive in New York for the Sail4th 250 Tall Ships Parade.

“The participation of the Amerigo Vespucci in the Sail4th 250 celebrations is much more than the presence of an extraordinary vessel,” declared Claudio Pagliara. “It is a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship between Italy and the United States—a friendship that has grown stronger over two and a half centuries through shared values, cultural exchanges, and human connections.”

Swipe through the highlights of a memorable evening featuring Chris O’Brien, Giosetta Capriati, and the unveiling of a model of the Amerigo Vespucci donated to the Institute.

NewYork TallShipsParade

🎭🎼 THEATER | Rossini: Il gusto della musicaYesterday evening, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York hosted “Rossini...
06/11/2026

🎭🎼 THEATER | Rossini: Il gusto della musica

Yesterday evening, the Italian Cultural Institute of New York hosted “Rossini: Il gusto della musica” (The Taste of Music), a celebration show combining live music, theater, and storytelling dedicated to the genius of Gioachino Rossini.
Presented by actor and director Manuele Morgese, artistic director of Teatrozeta, the performance brought the composer’s legacy to life through a theatrical text by Paola Bidinelli.

The show took the form of a confidential conversation over dinner, weaving together historical anecdotes, witty remarks, and Rossini’s well-known passion for fine cuisine. Famous arias and orchestral excerpts, curated by Nicolas Giusti, intertwined with the monologue to explore the composer’s life, his historical context, and the enduring modernity of his work.

Performed in Italian, this production shared Italy’s rich musical and theatrical heritage with the public, fostering a deeper connection with the community and strengthening the collaboration between Italian and American cultural institutions. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this evening.

📍 IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue

📜 Project Talmud: A Challenge Successfully MetYesterday evening, the Italian Cultural Institute hosted the presentation ...
06/10/2026

📜 Project Talmud: A Challenge Successfully Met

Yesterday evening, the Italian Cultural Institute hosted the presentation of the Talmud Project, celebrating the first complete Italian translation of the Babylonian Talmud. This monumental achievement is the result of more than fifteen years of work combining philological rigor, scientific research, and technological innovation to make a foundational text of Jewish tradition and Western civilization accessible in the Italian language.

The event introduced this milestone initiative to the American cultural and academic community. The program featured insights from our distinguished speakers: Clelia Piperno (Director of the Babylonian Talmud Translation Project), the first woman in Jewish history to lead a Talmudic work of this scope; Donato Grosser, a scholar of Jewish Studies and Talmudic Literature.

The project was carried out with the scientific support of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), within the framework of a memorandum of understanding involving the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.

This collaborative effort proudly places Italy among the few countries in the world to have produced a complete translation of the Babylonian Talmud.

📍 IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue

📐🎨 Zig Zag: A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the USAYesterday evening, we officially kicked off Zig Zag: A Visual Bridg...
06/09/2026

📐🎨 Zig Zag: A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the USA

Yesterday evening, we officially kicked off Zig Zag: A Visual Bridge Between Italy and the United States, a five-day festival and exhibition celebrating 250 years of friendship between our two countries through the lens of illustration.
The opening night began with remarks by the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, Claudio Pagliara.

Introduced by festival curator Steven Guarnaccia and author and historian Leonard Marcus, the evening featured a round table discussion moderated by Ilaria Tontardini.

An exceptional group of Italian and American authors and illustrators: Mac Barnett, Marianna Coppo, Felicita Sala, Riccardo Vecchio, and Olimpia Zagnoli, came together to explore shared influences, cultural exchanges, and new visual perspectives. The conversation concluded with a cocktail reception for our guests.

Running from June 8 to June 12, 2026, the Zig Zag festival is entirely dedicated to the exchange and exploration of visual languages. This initiative is organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York in collaboration with:

- Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Hamelin
- Rizzoli Bookstore
- The Society of Illustrators
- Salotto – Casa IED
- SVA School of Visual Arts
- Sullaluna.nyc

📍 IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue

🎶 EXHIBITION | Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New YorkOn June 5, we celebrated the legacy of a true musical legend with t...
06/08/2026

🎶 EXHIBITION | Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York

On June 5, we celebrated the legacy of a true musical legend with the opening of our new exhibition, “Enrico Caruso: From Naples to New York.” We were absolutely delighted to host the brilliant curators of the exhibition, Simona Frasca and Giuliana Muscio, to mark the launch of this incredible tribute.
If you missed the opening night, don’t worry, the journey has just begun! You are warmly invited to step into the world of the legendary Neapolitan tenor whose voice transformed music history and brought Italian opera into the American cultural landscape.

This captivating photographic and audio exhibition, first presented at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in 2022, brings together rare photographs, historical documents, and original recordings from the collections of the Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori e Audiovisivi. Discover how Caruso became one of the first global opera stars and a timeless symbol of Italian talent, migration, and cultural influence in America.

This exhibition is proudly presented as the fourth of five musical initiatives promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival.

🗓️ On Display Until: August 31, 2026 ⏰ Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM 🎟️ Admission: Free (No reservation needed)
📍 Location: IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue

🎹 High Notes: Martina ConsonniThe Italian Cultural Institute of New York was delighted to launch the festival “High Note...
06/08/2026

🎹 High Notes: Martina Consonni

The Italian Cultural Institute of New York was delighted to launch the festival “High Notes: A New Generation of Italian Musicians” on June 4.

The initiative, curated by violinist Francesca D**o to celebrate 250 years of Italian-American musical friendship, opened with an introductory video message from the curator explaining the series’ vision. The stage was then taken by pianist Martina Consonni, one of the most promising young classical artists of her generation.

Consonni captivated the audience with a brilliant technical and expressive performance, executing a repertoire that bridged European and American traditions through works by Bach, Scarlatti, Liszt, Beach, and Gershwin.

Thank you to the artist, our artistic curator, and our guests for a distinguished evening of classical music and international cultural diplomacy.

**o

🗓️Next Week at IIC New York: Illustration, Theater and Literature🔹06.08 | FESTIVAL OPENING | ZIG ZAG: A VISUAL BRIDGE BE...
06/06/2026

🗓️Next Week at IIC New York: Illustration, Theater and Literature

🔹06.08 | FESTIVAL OPENING | ZIG ZAG: A VISUAL BRIDGE BETWEEN ITALY AND THE USA
The Italian Cultural Institute of New York hosts the opening event of “Zig Zag,” a festival dedicated to contemporary illustration and the exchange of visual languages between Italy and the United States. The evening features an inaugural exhibition and a creative conversation with prominent Italian and American authors and illustrators, including Felicita Sala, Emiliano Ponzi, Riccardo Vecchio, Mac Barnett, and Maria Russo, with a historical introduction by Steven Guarnaccia. A cocktail reception will follow.

🔹06.09 | PRESENTATION | PROJECT TALMUD: A CHALLENGE SUCCESSFULLY MET
The Institute introduces the first complete Italian translation of the Babylonian Talmud to the American cultural and academic community. Realized with the scientific support of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), this multi-year project combines philological rigor, scientific research, and technological innovation. The presentation features project director Clelia Piperno and scholar Donato Grosser.

🔹06.10 | THEATER | ROSSINI: IL GUSTO DELLA MUSICA
Presented by Manuele Morgese, this theatrical production combines live music, drama, and storytelling in a tribute to the genius of Gioachino Rossini. Through a text by Paola Bidinelli and musical curation by Nicolas Giusti, the performance brings the composer’s career and historical context to life in the form of a witty conversation over dinner, exploring the enduring modernity of his work.

🔹06.11 | BOOK CLUB | MONTHLY READING: “VERDIGRIS” BY MICHELE MARI
The monthly Book Club meets to discuss Verdigris by Michele Mari, featuring special guest Brian Robert Moore, the novel’s translator and winner of the 2025 PEN Translation Prize. Set at the end of the 1960s near Lake Maggiore, the novel follows a thirteen-year-old boy who becomes obsessed with uncovering the mysterious, long-buried secrets and origins of his grandparents’ forgetful groundskeeper.

🔗 Register at the link in bio

06/03/2026

A glimpse into the studio practice and daily research of artist Sara Ravelli in New York.
As a fellow winner of the XXI Premio New York, Sara has spent the last five months developing new work, attending seminars at , and immersing herself in
the city’s contemporary art scene with a studio at .
The Premio New York is promoted by , , and the .

🎬🏫 Docufilm Screening: School of LifeOn June 1, we hosted the screening of the powerful docufilm School of Life (produce...
06/03/2026

🎬🏫 Docufilm Screening: School of Life

On June 1, we hosted the screening of the powerful docufilm School of Life (produced by Groenlandia and Rai Cinema), followed by an inspiring Q&A session with human rights
activist, author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nicolò Govoni.

The documentary offered a deeply moving look into the global education crisis and the transformative mission of Still I Rise, the non-profit organization founded by Govoni. By
capturing the daily lives of vulnerable children across some of the world’s most complex environments, the film highlighted how an innovative, top-tier education can completely reshape futures and restore hope.

A profound evening dedicated to the power of education, human rights, and global solidarity.

📍 IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue

🕺📚 Parole Danzanti: Dancing Words for Little Ones!Introduce your children to the beauty of the Italian language through ...
06/02/2026

🕺📚 Parole Danzanti: Dancing Words for Little Ones!

Introduce your children to the beauty of the Italian language through the joy of dance, music, and play! We are excited to announce Parole Danzanti (Dancing Words), a bilingual
creative movement workshop designed to make learning immersive and fun.

Created and led by professional dancer and educator Arianna Stendardo Gamble, this program uses interactive games and playful songs to help children explore Italian vocabulary
in a natural, vibrant way. It’s a wonderful opportunity to foster creativity, coordination, and a positive early connection to Italian culture.

The workshop will take place across two upcoming Saturday mornings, split into dedicated sessions for each age group:
🗓 Dates: Saturday, June 6 & Saturday, June 20, 2026
⏰ Sessions & Times:
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10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Ages 2–3
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM | Ages 4–5

📍 Where: IIC New York, 686 Park Avenue
🎟 Admission: Free (Registration required)
⚠ Please note: Parents or caregivers are required to remain on site for the duration of the session.

Spaces are limited for each age bracket! Click the link in our bio to select your session and register.

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686 Park Avenue
New York, NY
10065

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 5am
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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