Italian Cultural Institute

The Italian Institute of Culture (Istituto Italiano di Cultura) is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Italian government. It promotes Italian culture and is involved in the teaching of the Italian language, it is similar to the French Alliance Française, the Spanish Cervantes Institute, the British Council and the German Goethe Institute. The creation of the institute was in response to the desire for a deeper understanding of Italian culture throughout many continents. By organising cultural activities it supports the work carried out by the Italian Embassies and Consulates. There are 83 Italian Cultural Institutes throughout major cities around the world.

According to the provisions of the law 401/90, article 8 and the regulation 392/95,the Italian Cultural Institutes have the following functions:

• To establish contacts with institutions, agencies and organizations of the cultural and scientific environment of the hosting country and to promote proposals and projects with the aim of knowing the Italian culture and facts oriented to cultural and scientific collaborations.
• To provide documentation and information about the Italian cultural life and connected institutions.
• To promote initiatives, cultural manifestations and exhibitions.
• To support initiatives aimed at cultural development of the Italian communities abroad, in order to encourage their integration in the hosting country as well as cultural relationship with the home country.
• To assure collaboration with scholars and Italian students in their research activities and study abroad.
• To promote and support initiatives for the Italian language diffusion abroad, making use of Italian lecturers at the hosting country’s universities.