Bersntoler Kulturinstitut
Italy
Description: The Bersntoler Kulturinstitut / Istituto Culturale Mòcheno is a cultural Istitutution located on the mountains (1400 metres), in the Fersina Valley (Trentino, Italy), characterized by the presence of a minority language called “Bersntoler” and by a particular wild nature.
This small valley also soffered in the last decades of depopulation, but in the recent time some inhabitants have decided to remain on the mountains cultivating berries or rising sheeps, cows and local goats or commuting to the main centres at the bottom of the valley.
“Bersntolerisch” is the bavarian language spoken in this area that resists in an Italian speaking context and is officialy recognized by the Italian law.
Aim of the Institute is to preserve and develop the Bersntoler language and culture, activating specific projects.
Due to the strict connection between language and territory, projects are carried out in the linguistic and in the ethnografic field as well.
Whithin the linguistic field, the Institute is in charge of a database to conserve the lexicon of “bersntolerisch”, of editing books in the local language and other specific activities, in cooperation with local primary school or other representatives of the local society.
From an ethnografic point of view, the Institute is managing four museum section, which are inspired by the Intangible Culturale Heritage of the population. In that sense, the Institute focuses on projects involving local young people in cultural measures, in order to make them aware of the local heritage and to encourage the transmission of the local traditions. Museum projects are also aimed to offer an in-depth overview on the local community, avoiding the idea of a past and underdevelopped community, but showing aspects of the contemporary linguistic community.
The Institute is also cooperating with other Institutions focusing on the connection between population and the territory, the way the community lives nature today and lived it in the past.
Official contact:
E-mail:
Tel: +39 0461 550073
Staff members involved: Mauro Buffa, Leo Toller, Claudia Marchesoni, Sara Toller
Working Packages:
Category: Non-Academic
Links:
- Website: www.bersntol.it
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BersntolerKulturinstitut/
