The Italian American Museum, The First Institution Of Its Kind In NY, To Open In The Heart Of Little Italy
Gabagool, muzzarell, galamad, brosciutt…no, we’re not speaking gibberish, we’re speaking Italian American! And the 800,000 Italian Americans living in NYC–the largest population of Italian Americans in the United States–now have a new place to head to to be surrounded by their culture: NYC’s new Italian American Museum (IAM), the first institution of its kind in New York!
The Italian American Museum is the result of its principal founder’s vision, Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, who was inspired by The Italians of New York: Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievement” exhibition at the New-York Historical Society in 1999. The exhibition was one of the Society’s most successful presentations in its history, and just two years later the Italian American museum was chartered by the State of New York.
Encouraging a full appreciation of what it means to be Italian American, the museum will allow Italian Americans to share their story in their voice and serve as a cultural hub for the community and the Little Italy neighborhood.
The museum will showcase both permanent and temporary exhibits, offer robust educational and cultural programming, and collaborate with the community. Its three inaugural exhibitions include Puppet Homecoming: The Historic Sicilian Manteo Marionettes Return to Mulberry Street, featuring 32 puppets given to the museum by Michael Manteo, the son of the Manteo Puppet Theater’s founder, The Quincentenary: The Voyages of the Italian Explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, and Good Night, Maria, a tribute to Italian Americans who toiled in the garment industry.
The museum has also been in contact with a Sicilian Puppet Theater Company in Catania, Fratelli Napoli, and are looking to bring them to the Museum for several live performances–the coolest part: this unique art form can only be seen in Sicily!
Beyond the exhibits, the museum will also host walking tours through Little Italy for visitors to learn about the exciting history of the neighborhood, once the largest Italian American social enclave in the nation at the turn of the 19th century.
Fabrizio Di Michele, Consul General of Italy in New York, stated:
After several years of construction, it is a great source of satisfaction to be present at the opening of the new Italian American Museum. This place highlights and celebrates not only the rich cultural heritage of Italian Americans in NYC, but also their significant contributions to the history and society of this great nation.
Learn more about the museum on their website.
151 Mulberry Street
Opens Columbus Day, Monday, October 14th
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