Vespa Primavera (RED) on display in San Francisco. Press release and images, Consiglio Regionale Toscana:
https://inconsiglio.it/comunicato-stampa/genio-toscano-lo-stile-ed-i-saperi-di-una-regione-in-mostra-a-san-francisco/
December 2024 (G.T.) – A land that is about more than art, history and culture – a region excelling in design, style and innovation. The Tuscan story is taking centre stage at INNOVIT (Italian Innovation and Culture Hub, Sansome Street, San Francisco, California) with “Genio Toscano” (“Tuscan Genius”). The show, which was inaugurated on 4 December and remains open until 17 January 2025, celebrates the region’s rich manufacturing legacy through the stories of several companies and iconic products that have gained international recognition, including Vespa. The exhibition is organized by Regione Toscana (Tuscany Region) in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute, with the support of Fondazione Sistema Toscana.
Genio Toscano Exhibition – From timeless manufacturing to bold innovations.
Marras Instagram, clip video:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKftJRvE4O/
The assessor of economy and tourism Leonardo Marras explained: “Tuscany is a land of genius and innovation stretching back centuries. The aim of this exhibition is to present the essence of Tuscan design and manufacturing through several iconic products that are familiar across the world. These products are genuine innovations that have made history and continue to do so today. We tell their story in seven stages inspired by the Silicon Valley mindset. My heartfelt thanks go to the 26 organisations – 24 companies and 2 company museums – who accepted our invitation to participate. Today we open a new window in Silicon Valley onto Tuscany, and doing so brings us great pride.”
Press release and images, Consiglio Regionale Toscana:
https://inconsiglio.it/comunicato-stampa/genio-toscano-lo-stile-ed-i-saperi-di-una-regione-in-mostra-a-san-francisco/
The President of the Regional Council Antonio Mazzeo added: “This exhibition tells a story, the story of Tuscany, which takes the public beyond its image as the land of beauty, art, culture, story and tradition. This is also a land of innovation, where creativity and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped not only out past, but are driving us towards the future. This is the land of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Brunelleschi, but it is also genius, combined with the ability to innovate, that has distinguished, and continues to distinguish, the manufacturing history of Tuscany: from fashion to mechanics, from craftsmanship to design, and from textiles to a genuine Italian icon throughout the world – the Vespa.”
Press release and images, Consiglio Regionale Toscana:
https://inconsiglio.it/comunicato-stampa/genio-toscano-lo-stile-ed-i-saperi-di-una-regione-in-mostra-a-san-francisco/
The journey covers seven stages: Be visionary! - Think different! – Have a dream! – Roots – People – Shape lives! – Draft the future! Each stage’s title highlights a specific characteristic of Tuscan entrepreneurial and manufacturing skills and is represented by one or more stories told through objects, projects, images and testimonies from Tuscan companies and company museums. The material on display is further enhanced by in-depth multimedia content. Piaggio with Vespa is joined by other Tuscan companies in the exhibition, including Ferragamo, Poltronova, Edra and Bitossi.
Image from: https://www.instagram.com/veronicamaffei/p/DDMDNrcxGnT/?img_index=4
Social corner: post by Veronica Maffei, Tuscan journalist in California. “It’s a great thrill to see Tuscan genius celebrated in an exhibition that reminds us of Italy’s great ability to innovate and excel over the centuries. It’s a true honour to follow a project uniting my two homes: Tuscany, Italy, and California, USA.” Don’t miss the exhibition! she invites.
Italian Consul General in San Francisco Sergio Strozzi commented: “This splendid initiative not only brings the very best of Tuscany to California and to the heart of Silicon Valley, promoting the most innovative companies to create a real shop window into Tuscan innovation and creativity, it also perfectly joins up with the goal of the Consulate General and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spreading a new, more contemporary image of Italian design and manufacturing in one of the most technologically advanced areas of the world. ‘Genio Toscano’ is a key part in the ‘Growth and Innovation Diplomacy’ strategy promoted by Italy’s foreign office. This is an important and unique undertaking, which underlines the growing presence and collaboration of Regione Toscana and its innovative ecosystems with the main players in Silicon Valley.”
Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco:
https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/
https://www.facebook.com/innovitsf
Alberto Acito, director of INNOVIT stated: “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting an event that not only celebrates Tuscany’s rich cultural and manufacturing heritage, but also embodies the creativity and innovation that is at its core. The support programme for startups that we are working on here in Silicon Valley at the same time as the exhibition includes a growth programme for 11 Tuscan startups as part of the ‘Casa Toscana’ project. The show is a natural extension of that, an opportunity to connect the region’s history and craftsmanship with the future of innovation. Initiatives such as these make Innovit a place to explore Italian and Tuscan creativity, bringing to international attention not only the technological solutions of innovative companies, but also the heritage of style and expertise that symbolises our culture.”
INNOVIT: https://innovitsf.com/
