After the great success of the 2016 edition, the Italian Ministry of Culture has recently opened up a new MigrArti call for proposals. The programme is aimed at providing financial support to projects that could enhance intercultural knowledge and mutual exchange through the active involvement of migrants living in Italy, especially second generations. By promoting dialogue and mutual exchange, the ultimate goal of MigrArti is to enhance integration.

Like last year, the programme is split into 2 main streams: one will fund new projects in the field of Art and Entertainment (theatre, performing arts, ballet, music etc.) while the second one will fund cinema projects (short movies, documentaries, thematic festivals and awards). In addition, the 2017 edition of MigrArti will include new initiatives:

• Best Short Movie will award the work of young second generation cinema makers that will be presented in the main national festivals.
• MigrArti Festival will take place in October next year in the 2017 National Cultural Capital Pistoia.
• MigrArti Cartoon award which is organised in collaboration with the public TV broadcasting company RAI. The best cartoon short movies will be presented at the Cartoons on the Bay Festival 2017 in Venice.

750,000 euros is allocated to each stream. A co-funding of 20% of the total budget of the project is required. Applications can be submitted until 12 January 2017 at 12am through the online platform of the Ministry of Culture: here for the cinema strand and here for the entertainment strand.

In 2016, 21 projects (out of 443 proposals) have been funded in the Art and Entertainment stream and 24 projects (out of 505 proposals) in the Cinema stream. As stated by Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Dario Franceschini, 'With MigrArti, we are trying to fill a gap and to promote a better knowledge of the many cultures and migrant communities that live in Italy. The success of the past edition proves that there is a great demand for a better knowledge of new Italians and their cultures of origin. And this is a very positive thing, since reciprocal knowledge improves integration'.

More info