Article 9 of the Constitution

The national Project and Competition targets lower and upper secondary schools with the aim of raising awareness of active and responsible citizenship in young generations, through topics inspired by Article 9 of the Italian Constitution: “The Republic promotes the development of culture and scientific and technical research. It protects the Nation’s landscape and historical and artistic heritage”.

 

Promoted by the Ministry of Education, University and Research — General Directorate for School Systems and for the Evaluation of the National Education System, Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche and Ministry of Cultural Assets and Activities and Tourism — General Directorate for Education and Research, the initiative is implemented in cooperation with the Senate of the Republic,

Italian Chamber of Deputies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection, “Domenica” of the Il Sole 24 Ore daily and media partners Rai Cultura and Rai Radio3.

 

Since 2012, over 50 thousand students have taken part in an experience where they are the key players, outside the classroom and supported by teachers. The call for entries is conducted in two stages and combines learning new contents with the study and creation of original products by the students. Between November and March, a schedule of lessons-lectures, also in streaming, encourages schools to have exchanges with some of the most prominent scholars and players of the national cultural scene. In addition to lessons held by the lecturers, in various Italian cities and in certain symbolic sites of the historic and artistic heritage, it is possible to take part in guided tours and educational activities to enjoy the country’s cultural and landscape resources in a direct and unique way. In the second stage, the school groups will use artistic languages, multimedia technologies and creativity, to draw up proposals in audio-video format or audio-only, to document their study and research process.

 

At the end of the school year, a Jury made up of scholars and experts appointed by the General Directorate for School Systems and for the Evaluation of the National Education System of the Ministry of Education, University and Research examines the productions and the winners of the Competition are awarded at a public ceremony in Rome, at the Senate of the Republic. The prizes include the possibility of having the school groups’ productions broadcast by some TV and radio channels as well as through digital communication media.