A School of Traditional Neapolitan Nativity Art Will Open in Naples

Among the figures in the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene of the 1700s are the laundress, the hunter, the fisherman, the food vendors, and the ever-present Benin, a shepherd asleep beneath the starry sky. It’s from his dream that the representation of the nativity scene was created. Each figurine, setting, or ornament reveals symbolism that transcends the mere depiction of the Nativity.This legacy of art and knowledge can now be learned in a school, thanks to an ambitious development project in the heart of Naples’ historic center. Supported by NIAF (the National Italian American Foundation) in collaboration with the Neapolitan municipality and the CON IL SUD Foundation, thereby launching its fundraising campaign in the US.During NIAF’s 48th Anniversary Gala in Washington, DC, attended by the US President and First Lady, Joe and Jill Biden,an international fundraisingcampaignwas initiated by the National Italian American Foundation. They aim to raise 300,000 euros for the creation of the “Academy of Neapolitan Nativity Art.”fundraising“The project proposed by the CON IL SUD Foundation,” Robert Carlucci, chairman of the NIAFcampaign“The project proposed by the CON IL SUD Foundation,” explainsRobert Allegrini, president of NIAF, “as part of the broader collaboration agreement signed in June with the City of Naples, is a clear example of honoring and protecting the best Italian traditions in line with the spirit of the National Italian American Foundation. The quality of the proposal and the proposer’s reputation convinced us to adopt the project, by introducing and offering its support to the vast Italian-American community that NIAF centers around.”, “as part of the broader collaboration agreement signed in June with the City of Naples, is a clear example of honoring and protecting the best Italian traditions in line with the spirit of the National Italian American Foundation. The quality of the proposal and the proposer’s reputation convinced us to adopt the project, by introducing and offering its support to the vast Italian-American community that NIAF centers around.”“We thank the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi,” creating new job opportunitiesaddspreserving nativity art-making, “for the excellent reception received in June by the NIAF delegation and for the cooperation agreement signed by the municipality. Among our possible joint actions, supporting nativity art seemed the most ready to get underway. Our visit to San Gregorio Armeno, our interaction with the main artisan masters, and the extraordinary quality of the products on display were the basis for the decision to join the proposal of the CON IL SUD Foundation and its president, Stefano Consiglio.”promoting tourism and interestA three-year program is designed to teach the secrets of a craft characterized by the inclusion of secular elements related to popular city life within its portrayal of the Holy Family. This tradition, initiated in the 1700s at the behest of Charles III of Bourbon, has been handed down for generations thanks to the commitment of families of master artisans in the San Gregorio Armeno district.providing training opportunitiesSeveral objectives were set, including “We thank the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi,” for young people from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, In collaboration with the Church of Naples, which is endangered due to the difficulty of training new recruits, was developed as a component of the educational initiative championed by Archbishop Don Mimmo Battaglia in the Neapolitan nativity tradition, and for professionals (seminars and refresher courses) and enthusiasts (was presented to the NIAF delegation by the L’Altra Napoli Association, in collaboration with the association Le Botteghe di San Gregorio Armeno and the Manallart cooperativetailor-made public-private collaboration with international organizations workshops). CON IL SUD Foundation acting as the intermediary for the operational elements related to the monitoring of activities and transfer of funds raised by NIAF., “for the excellent reception received in June by the NIAF delegation and for the cooperation agreement signed by the municipality. Among our possible joint actions, supporting nativity art seemed the most ready to get underway. Our visit to San Gregorio Armeno, our interaction with the main artisan masters, and the extraordinary quality of the products on display were the basis for the decision to join the proposal of the CON IL SUD Foundation and its president, Stefano Consiglio.” the projectStefano Consiglio, president of the CON IL SUD Foundationtailor-made