As part of the twinning between the two cities, the Nice Riviera Côte d’Azur Rotary Club and that of Cuneo, a city of around 50,000 inhabitants in Piedmont, Italy, are organizing the third edition of the Inter-Alpes poetical prize in 2009. For two years, it has been established in partnership with the Alliance Française of Cuneo. Launched this year on Wednesday, January 14 during a luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Nice (photo), it rewards the best poem from the several hundred French and Italian students, who come from both cities and their surrounding towns. This year’s theme, chosen by the European Union, is fantasy. “Students must express their creativity, their inner selves. It’s a very good way to communicate. Most of the time, a good number of them are not daring enough to assert themselves in class,” explains Manuela Vico, president of the Alliance Française of Cuneo, who is engaging in a “motivating action” to encourage young people in poetic creation.
Multiple Organizers, Same Goals
The goals of each are substantially the same. Twinned since 1964, the two cities hope to be as active as possible in the framework of this partnership. For the rotary clubs of Nice Riviera and Cuneo (Cuni in Piedmontese), understanding is essential. “It’s an important motivational factor. We do our utmost to develop friendly relations. But it’s also for the youth of our department,” comments Dominique Fassio, president of the Rotary Club Nice Riviera Côte d’Azur. The same sentiment is echoed by the Nice Academy: “The cross-border aspect is precious. It also allows for the development of literary and poetic skills of the students,” admits François-Marie Perrin, deputy to the academic inspection.
A Jury of Experts
The results of the competition will be delivered on May 29, 2009, in Cuneo by a jury of experts. Italian critics, French poets, and members of the Rotary Clubs will indeed give their opinions on each poem and select the best. To be as objective as possible, the students’ texts will not be signed. There will therefore be no personal distinction but an individual reward for all participants.
This video is from the website Web TV Nice.
