The global impact of Coronavirus has upset everyone’s life and could not fail to touch an event that, since its debut in 2008, has given space to the meeting and exchange between artists and their audience, to comparison, to debate and live creation. Given the impossibility of realizing the XII edition in the classic way, but wanting to keep the celebratory event of linguistic diversity and the attention of the communities and the media on the theme of minority languages in the world, the organizing committee proposes the “Ostana 2020 Award – Special Online Edition “for the days of Friday 5th and Saturday 6th June 2020.
Over the years, Ostana has hosted 37 languages from 5 continents, united by the spirit of convivéncia, a trobadoric word that means “the art of living together in harmony”. In this way, a real international network of authors, enthusiasts and supporters of linguistic diversity has consolidated, making the Ostana Prize an unmissable annual event to discuss and discuss the present and future of minority languages, in the defense of linguistic rights and their universal value.
According to UNESCO, there are 7000 languages currently spoken in the world, and about 40% of these are endangered. The United Nations has proclaimed the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032. The goal is clear: to draw citizens’ attention to the disappearance of indigenous languages and to the need to preserve, revive and promote them, both nationally and internationally.
It is in this spirit that the network of the Prize – made up of languages and passions, cultures and projects, peoples and dreams – decided to meet on the other network, the global one par excellence: precisely to continue working on issues and critical issues that today they are dramatically highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but which have always been at the centre of the reflections of those who deal with the defence of linguistic wealth in the world. Anthropocentrism, ongoing climate change, threats to biodiversity and local ecosystems, the disappearance of social knowledge and the eradication of populations from their land, community conflicts and deprivation of freedom of individuals or entire minorities: here are some critical issues of our contemporary life that attention to mother tongues reveals and questions, in many cases saving them from oblivion or forced invisibility.
The “Ostana 2020 Prize – Special Online Edition” therefore brought together the voices and looks of the winners of the previous editions to create two days of live online on the website www.premioostana.it with interviews, conferences, literary, musical and artistic contributions . This year the sharing of interests will be digital, connected and multimedia, the convivéncia will extend through the social network mediated by technological forms but it will not be less participated for this.
Social distancing has contributed to increasing online connection and exchange practices and the desire for the Award is to expand its network, its community, to involve every person interested in the defence and promotion of linguistic diversity, in Italy as in the rest of the world.
Ines Cavalcanti, head of the Artistic Director, declares: “We will have the opportunity to interact and compare ourselves, we will be” distant but united “, waiting to be able to meet next year all together in Ostana, under Monviso. Behind every mother tongue there is a vision of the world deeply connected to the territory, to social reality and to the environment: never as we now need it absolutely. We invite you to follow and participate in the Ostana Prize in its special edition in digital format: the dedicated platform will be ready to welcome the authors and their world and the social networking channels will allow us to bring literature, music and cinema, artistic performances, to homes and in the pockets of those who want to follow us on a journey around the world with the heart in Ostana. “
Silvia Rovere, Mayor of Ostana comments: “The strength and determination of the spirit that governs the Ostana Prize, this year more than ever, will have the opportunity to come to light. The decision to carry on the project at a complex moment like the one we are experiencing, using all the new communication tools, underlines the importance of protecting minority languages, which in many places guarantee the maintenance of a community spirit and brotherhood. The small community of Ostana once again tries to get involved and will try, as in previous editions, to become the agora where the biodiversity of languages meets and compares. “
The “Ostana Prize: writings in mother tongue – escrituras en lenga maire – Special online edition 2020” is conceived by Chambra d’oc, in collaboration with Nethics, and promoted and supported by: Municipality of Ostana, Piedmont Region, Cirdoc of Béziers, Pen club Occitan, Ràdio Lenga d’Òc, CRC Foundation, CRT Foundation, ATL Cuneo.
In previous editions, the Prize has given voice to 37 languages from all 5 continents.
From Europe: Occitan (France – Italy), Friulian (Italy), Cimbro (Italy), Ladino (South Tyrol), Sardinian (Italy), Romans (Romania), Slovenian (Slovenia – Italy), Galician (Spain), Basque (Spain), Catalan (Spain) and the variant of Alghero (Italy), Maltese (Malta), Frisian (Holland), Griko (Italy), Breton (France), Romansh (Switzerland), Nynorsk (Norway), Sami (Lapland – Norway, Sweden), Welsh (United Kingdom), Irish (Ireland), Albanian (Kosovo – ex Yugoslavia), Ciuvascio and Even (Russia), Walser (Switzerland – Germany – Italy); from Africa: Yoruba (Nigeria), Amazigh-Kabilo (Algeria – Morocco); from Asia: Armenian (Armenia), Tibetan (China), Kurdish (Turkey), Hebrew (Israel) from the Americas: Huave (Mexico), Mazateco (Mexico), Tutunaku (Mexico), Cheyenne (Usa), Shuar (Ecuador) , Innu (Canada), Guaraní (Paraguay) and finally from Oceania: Maori language (New Zealand).
Organising committee
Giacomo Lombardo / President
Ines Cavalcanti / Artistic Director
Maria Teresa Atorino, Joan Frederic Brun, Marion Cornet, Diego Corraine, Andrea Fantino, Valter Giuliano, Valentina Musmeci, Marzia Rey, Fredo Valla
