Canzoni&Parole is the first festival dedicated to Italian singer-songwriters in Paris. Organized by the Association Musica Italiana, the project creates a unique cultural bridge between France and Italy, with a mission to promote Italian culture, language, and civic engagement through music. They earned the prestigious Label Paris Europe from the City of Paris in 2022 and 2024 for its contribution to international relations and education.
A standout feature of this initiative is its educational component, which bridges the gap between the festival's singer-songwriters and the local community. For two months leading up to the Parisian stage, an equal group of eight artists, four men and four women, collaborated virtually with Italian language instructors and students from secondary schools across the Paris region. Through digital workshops, students delve into the artists' backgrounds and the social landscapes that shape their music, focusing heavily on lyrics that champion civic engagement. This immersive process culminates during the festival with a dynamic gathering at a historic high school theater near Montmartre, where over 200 young learners meet the full ensemble of musicians to celebrate the Italian language through the power of contemporary song.
During the second edition of the festival, Italian students from 10 secondary schools in the Paris region had the opportunity to meet 10 Italian songwriters. The students discovered the world of an artist, studied their songs, interviewed them via videoconference and wrote an article in French presenting them for the festival brochure. A concert and meet-and-greet was held at Lycée Jacques Decour in Paris on 14 April, attended by all the artists and classes. On this occasion, the students met Italian journalist Lorenzo Tosa and received a copy of his book Voyage à travers l'Italie qui résiste (Journey through Italy's resistance).
