The theme of this second edition is the proportion “Energy:Mankind= Future:Environment”. Can you explain why the choice of this formula?
We considered it as being a current topic for expressing the company’s future outlook, the guiding strategy for our choices in defining the sustainable development of electricity infrastructures coherently with the first edition’s theme that was connected more closely to energy transmission. During this period of general uncertainty, not only economically, the objective is to focus everyone’s attention on the new challenges posed by the future, on the theme of sustainability intended as respecting the environment and having a strategic vision of the future. We are inviting the artists to express their creativity and vision on four concepts that being essentially connected to one another, represent the key for reading the present.
How is the Terna Prize different respect to other prizes and which is its added value?
The Terna Prize is not just a contest, but a large Italian project for supporting contemporary art and artists that is carried out full circle: sector studies, partnerships with museums, targeted communication activity, enhancing the artists’ creativity through exhibits and events, involving all those working in the sector. For the first time a company wishes to interconnect art, economy and society through innovation. In order to do so, we did not merely choose a sponsorship, but decided to directly invest in our own project. The real novelty lies in the choice of supporting contemporary art transferring Terna’s business know-how to the system and applying it to the specific nature of the sector. The choice of internationally expanding the Terna Prize is the added value of this second edition. With the “Connectivity” project our aim was to establish an interconnection between Italy and other countries that favors an exchange of artistic experiences while also encouraging emerging artists. The success of the opening of the exhibit of the 16 winners of the prize’s first edition at the Chelsea Museum confirmed the interest in contemporary art also within a prestigious international context.
Terna focuses largely on managing corporate social responsibility. How does this apply to the Prize?
In the case of a company like Terna, it is applied to the concept of restoring value to the territory and the community as well as to the synergy between the public and private sectors. As part of our cultural and corporate experience in contemporary art, we have renewed our commitment in agreement with the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities to support the sector and enhance the role of the artists in daily life, both in the cultural and business system, also through training and education such as scholarships that will be awarded to the winners of this second edition. I would like to particularly point out Terna’s support of Abruzzo hit by the earthquake and for rebuilding the Palazzo Persichetti in L’Aquila as well as the MU.SP.A.C. Experimental Museum of Contemporary Art, further strengthening our social responsibility commitment.
2009-07-13
