Dear scholars and researchers,

I am writing you to inform you about a new, prestigious cultural
initiative promoted by Fondazione Giorgio Cini: the Vittore Branca
International Center for the Study of Italian Culture, a new
international resource for humanities studies aimed at young researchers
and expert scholars interested in furthering their knowledge in a field
of Italian civilisation: the visual arts, history, literature, music,
drama.

Two main categories of researchers are eligible to attend the Vittore
Branca Center: Junior, i.e. postgraduate students studying for a
master's degree, doctorate or specialization and Ph.D. graduates, and
Senior, i.e. expert scholars - university lecturers, senior researchers,
heads of research centers, writers or artists.

The residential facilities on the Island provide scholars and
researchers with the opportunity to work and stay at length on the
Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice at economically reasonable
conditions (30 euros a day, including breakfast) in a setting conducive
to reflection and intellectual exchanges. A residence situated in the
grounds of the Island can accommodate up to 90 scholars, allowing young
researchers and expert scholars to enjoy the mutual benefits of working
side by side.

Researchers at the Vittore Branca Center will also have privileged
access to the Fondazione Giorgio Cini libraries and archives,
specialized in the areas of art history, Venetian history, literature,
music, dance and theatre, and to the literary, art, drama and music
bequests housed in the Foundation.

Moreover, they will have free access to all cultural events (courses,
seminars, conferences, exhibitions, concerts, etc.) organized by the
Giorgio Cini Foundation. Thus, for example, musicologists can attend
seminars of historical studies, while art historians can sit in on
seminars on early music: both have the opportunity to explore the
broader cultural background to their own work.

Researchers at the Vittore Branca Center will also have free access to a
work station with Internet connection, printer, scanner, telephone-fax;
an international newspaper library; film and music rooms on the
residence premises; advice and information about libraries and archives
of the main Venetian institutions.

Lastly, young researchers at the Vittore Branca Center can also benefit
from the presence of a tutor who will assist them in becoming familiar
with the general set-up on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore and its
documentary and artistic heritage. Tutors will also advise researchers
on cultural events at the Giorgio Cini Foundation and in the city and
will suggest which directors and collaborators in the Foundation's
Institutes and Research Centers can help them with their research
projects.

Access to the Vittore Branca Center and all its facilities requires
prior admission (see Junior admission and Senior admission) Applications
for admission must be drafted according to the appropriate form which
can be downloaded from http://www.cini.it .

For the period from June 2010 to May 2011, twelve scholarships amounting
to euros 12,500 are available for young students, who are expected to
stay permanently in the Vittore Branca Center residence for a period in
keeping with the aims of their research project (usually six months).
Such research project shall be consistent with the Fondazione Giorgio
Cini strategy to open up and make good use of the great store of art and
intellectual treasures housed on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in
Venice.

E-mail: centrobrancacini.it
www.cini.it