24 students from the Longniddry Primary school in East Lothian Scotland are in Barga this week along with their Headmistress Catherine Jacks, two teachers, Stephanie McFadyen and Peter Antonelli and the Provost of East Lothian Mrs Sheena Richardson. They are here as part of the continuing cultural exchange between East Lothian and Barga that has been going on since 2007.
Since Longniddry Primary’s initial visit to Barga four years ago (article here) , kids here and in East Lothian have kept their cross-sea friendships and the very spirit of this cultural twinning active by exchanging letters, art and photos with each other via internet. Needless to say, the pupils at Barga Elementare await eagerly the reunion with their twinned school, and this year have many exciting additions planned for the visit.
The Barga Comune and staff at The Istituto Comprensivo di Barga, who have been working together since September on this week’s events, have constructed a programme which promises to all of those involved, a week full of cultural fusion through various activities, trips and projects: As well as completing the final stage of the John Muir Award with Barga Elementare (see article here), the East-Lothian pupils will be working together with students from each Primaria and Media school in Barga, Fornaci and Filecchio to produce a full-scale, musical performance in the Teatro Dei Differenti this Friday night.
Click on the link below to hear a short interview with Peter Antonelli recorded in Barga Vecchia just after the concert:
peter antonelli barga 14may2010