Public programs on Italian culture are available in a variety of forms. The Italian Cultural Institute in Westwood is the primary organizer of such programs, but there are a range of other institutions which also present culture in a public forum: university Italian Departments (e.g., the George L. Graziadio Center for Italian Studies, Cal State, Long Beach, See: EDUCATION, University Italian Studies ), heritage festival organizers (e.g., San Gennaro Foundation), the Historic Italian Hall, and some clubs and associations (normally for their own members: the Patrons of Italian Culture)), and museums as well, such as the G. Paul Getty Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum, and others.
Italian Historic Hall Foundation
(See: COMMUNITY SITES, Community Sites & Meeting Places)
Marianna Gatto, Curator
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
125 Paseo de la Plaza, Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel: 213-485-8432
Fax: 213-485-8238
Email: Mariann.Gatto@lacity.org
http://www.italianhall.org/
El Pueblo produced its first exhibition on the Italians of Los Angeles in October, 2008, entitled: Sunshine and Struggle: The Italian Experience in Los Angeles, 1827-1927.
Patrons of Italian Culture
Pres.: Manny Blas
Tel: (818) 972-9230
Italian Culture Heritage Foundation
3017 Santa Monica Blvd. #201
Santa Monica CA 90404
Tel.: 310-879-0950
Teatro D'Arte Italiano
Director: Rocco Olivo
Tel: (323) 257-3051
Orange County American Italian Renaissance Foundation
Mr. Tom Rizzo, President
1324 W. Rickey Lane
Anaheim, 92802
E mail: rizzoteam@c21superstars.com
Orange County Italian Cultural Association
http://www.ocica.org/
San Gennaro Foundation
Jimmy Kimmel, Chairman
http://www.feastofla.org/foundation.html
See: CELEBRATIONS, Folk Festivals: Feast of San Gennaro
A Bit of History: The IOHI ñ Italian Oral History Institute, of which this site formed a special project, was closed in 2007. See ABOUT US
Heritage On Display
 Selling Italian ethnicity display items at the San Gennaro Festival 2002. |
Some Italian Americans (and Italians) like to display their heritage on T-shirts, caps, buttons, banners, posters, car bumpers, calendars, trinkets and novelties. These range from "Kiss Me, I'm Italian" and "Parking for Italians Only" stickers, to Italian flags, figurines of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Michelangelo's David, Venetian masks, soccer T-shirts, the "I" or European Union (gold stars on a blue background) decal for cars, to anything which is red, white and green! Regional variants are also abundant (especially for Sicilians). Many online vendors can peddle such heritage products. They are always available at Italian street festivals.
"Bring Italy Home": http://www.initaly.com/itathome/itathome.htm
"The resource for enthusiasts of Italian culture": http://www.virtualitalia.com/
Villa Romano (Villaggio Italiano): http://villaromano.com/index.htm/