A two-day workshop on Uncovering the Afterlife of the Italian Empire organised by Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies
21–22 May at Senate House, London
This in-person event brings together artists, curators, writers, and researchers for an open, transdisciplinary exchange on the legacies of Italian colonialism and their ongoing impact today. Through creative and critical dialogue, we’ll explore collaborative approaches to cultural memory, resistance, and education. All are welcome—registration is free.
For info click here
ICI London and pianist Margherita Torretta are thrilled to present the life and works of Elisabetta de Gambarini, an 18th-century Italian-English composer, harpsichordist, and singer. Our narrative weaves her personal journey and artistic achievements against the backdrop of a time when women faced significant barriers in the musical world and society.
An introductory presentation will examine the social and cultural norms of 18th-century Europe, highlighting the challenges faced by women in the arts. It will delve into Gambarini’s background, family, and the influences that shaped her musical career. It will be highlighted how Gambarini navigated the male-dominated music scene, earning recognition as a composer and performer.
The introduction will be followed by a live musical performance.
A project in collaboration with The Italian British Society.
Artists & Musicians:
Margherita Torretta, pianoforte
Marta Leung, soprano
Enrica Mondo, violoncello
Giulia Nigra, flauto
Federica Nardacci, speaker
For bookings click HERE
The British-Italian Society and the Society for Italian Studies have announced the latest winners of the biennial BIS Student Prizes.
The winner of the 2024 Postgraduate Prize (£500) is George Brocklehurst of the Warburg Institute for his PhD chapter, Convivial Humanism: Giovanni Pontano on the Art of Living Together.
The 2024 Undergraduate Prize (£250) was awarded to Eleanor Summers of St Andrews University for her dissertation on The Italian Tomato as Living Cultural Artefact.
A runner-up award at Postgraduate level (£200) went to George Rayson of Cambridge University for his PhD chapter on Dante’s Hapax Legomena in the Commedia: A Study of Poetic Singularity.
A runner-up award at Undergraduate level (£100) was made to Isabel Winter of Cambridge University for her dissertation on Second Generation Italian HipHop.
The reviewers considered both runners-up to have produced academic work of exceptional merit.
The competition again attracted a large number of entries (10) from students at British and Irish Universities on a wide range of Italian cultural themes. The judges strongly commended the winners for producing highly innovative and well-argued pieces of scholarship.
Our warmest congratulations go to all the prize-winners, who also receive one year’s honorary membership of the British-Italian Society.
We look forward to welcoming them to an event in 2025!
Since it was founded in 1941, the British-Italian Society has worked to promote knowledge and understanding in the UK of Italian culture, including Italy’s history, institutions, way of life, language and wider contribution to civilisation.
The British-Italian Society
86-90 Paul Street
London EC2A 4NE