Introduction

The Italian Trade Commission organises corresponding Italian Festivals in various parts of the world. The Italian Festival serves as a model for subsequent initiatives throughout the year, coinciding with celebrations for Italian "Festa della Repubblica" on 2nd June, and displaying the best of what Italy has to offer.

The 2009 edition of the Sydney Italian Festival represents the sixth edition of a tested and successful event, whose primary objective is to propose a sophisticated and "aggressive" image of "Made in Italy" products and services, overcoming the many stereotypes which unfortunately continue to be associated Italian produce and merchandise.

Throughout the three week period of the Festival, across more than 200 events, the city of Sydney will be able to once again discover some of the finest attributes Italy has to offer, such as eno-gastronomic culture, the excellence of Italian design and fashion, art and culture, cinema and much more.

Our sponsors for the 2009 Sydney Italian Festival are renowned companies, all instrumental in the promotion of the "Made in Italy" slogan in Australia. These sponsors are Emirates, Barilla, San Pellegrino, Natuzzi, Pirelli.

The Sydney Italian Festival is officially recognised and sponsored by the Premier of of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, and by the City of Sydney Council, working in collaboration with the Italian Trade Commission across numerous promotional initiatives.

The Festival will open with a Launch Party at the prestigious New South Wales Art Gallery. The Launch Party will be modern and dynamic in nature, and instrumental in conveying a sense of Italian growth, with approximately 500 invitees including representatives from local business communities, both institutional and artistic.

As well as the official opening of the Festival, key events throughout the evening will include the prize ceremony for the "Italia nel Mondo" award, awarded by Fondazione Italia, a short concert by the prestigious Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and an exhibition of iconic "Made in Italy" products.

Throughout the Festival, additional events of particular relevance to the Italian community of Sydney will be inserted into the programme, such as the celebrations for the Italian Republic and Italian National Day on 2nd June, Primo Italiano 24th May and Viva Leichhardt 7th June.

In this edition of the Festival, we have put a great deal of effort into our website, which is very elegant in its appearance, yet at the same time very accessible, much the same as those small and medium businesses which provide the groundwork for the "Made in Italy" label.