(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Learning more about the opportunities offered by the European funds dedicated to culture through improved collaboration between entities, foundations and festivals from 17 European countries, with particular attention to the countries of "New Europe" and the Central European Initiative (Cei) member states, was the main topic of the International Symposium "Opera Houses and Music Festivals in Central and Eastern Europe", organized by the Cei, in collaboration with the Giuseppe Verdi Theatre from Trieste, on the occasion of the World Music Day.

The symposium was attended by organizations and foundations, theater and music festivals from Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

The Theater an der Wien in Vienna, the national theaters of Timisoara and Bratislava, the International Festival "Sarajevo Winter", the Macedonian Opera, the International Festival of Izmir, the Mittlefest were amongst the participants. The artistic director of the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts from Brussels and the president of France Festivals were also present.

The event was inaugurated with a greeting from the mayor of Trieste, Roberto Cosolini, and by the Secretary-General of the CEI, Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri.

The event featured around 50 participants, including the regional councilor for culture, Gianni Torrenti, and the consultant for European policies and international relations, Mark Marinuzzi, who were present on behalf of the Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Emilio Dalmonte, deputy director of the European Commission Representation in Italy, and Cristina Loglio, chair of the working table for Creative Europe programme at the Italian Ministry for culture and tourism, were amongst the active participants of the meeting.

"We want to involve more and more young audiences, train young musicians in our member countries, promote the use of new technologies, follow the new trends in opera, ballet and symphonic music in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, with whom we share a common and well-recognized cultural heritage", said the CEI Secretary General, Caracciolo di Vietri, while stressing that the CEI already has a solid experience in the field of culture, particularly in the sectors of media, design, visual arts, literature and film, besides music which was the main topic of the Symposium. (ANSA).