Governance

Short biography

GIUSEPPE DI FRANCO

Culture manager and expert in cultural marketing. Project manager in intercultural communication, artistic director, director of high cultural level events aimed at spreading the art, culture and image of Palermo and Sicily in Italy, Europe and the world.

President of the “Centro Studi Federico II” (based in Palermo and representations in Rome, New York and Bordeaux) and of the Italian-French cultural institution “Maison France Italie” based in Bordeaux, he has been working professionally for 40 years.

Honors and positions held

On 24 September 2015 in Palermo he received the “Pigna D’Argento” International Award together with the actor Lando Buzzanca.

On 24 March 2019 he received the highest honor that the municipality of Palermo assigns to personalities who have particularly distinguished themselves: the “Precious Card of the Palermo Mosaic” which was delivered to him by the Mayor at Palazzo delle Aquile, seat of the municipal administration.

In November 2019 he received a Special Commendation from the Chief of Police of the state of New York “The Police Commissioner” (NYPD) for a socio-cultural mission carried out with great success in New York at the Columbus Foundation and at the Rockefeller Center.

In 2022 he received a lifetime achievement honor from the United States issued by an Italian American cultural institution based in New York, the AIAE – Association of Italian American Educators.

He also received the “International Award for Sicilian Excellence” (which is awarded annually to only three personalities) with the following motivation: “For his cultural merits at an international level and for having brought the name of Sicily to the world”.

May 2022 receives the “Columbus International Award” from the Italy Foundation with the following motivation: “For his tireless activity as a promoter of Italian culture in the world, through high-level initiatives, in Italy and abroad.

On 10 January 2022 he was elected President of the Federico II Study Center with headquarters in Palermo and representative offices in Rome, New York and Bordeaux.

He is responsible and international coordinator of the cultural platform “European Culture Vision 2032” for the implementation of international cultural and socio-cultural projects planned for the next 10 years in some European cities.

With the Federico II Study Center he carried out various cultural and socio-cultural projects and initiatives in Rome, New York, Bordeaux, Bratislava and Cefalù in the years 2022/2023 for the diffusion of the culture and image of Palermo and Sicily abroad.

He carries out institutional and representative activities in Italy and abroad as President of the Federico II Study Center and of Maison France-Italie with national and international cultural and socio-cultural meetings with institutions (public and private) and with personalities from the world of politics and diplomacy.

On 29 March 2023 he was officially invited, as President of the Federico II Study Center, to the UN headquarters in New York where he presented the intercultural project “For Culture Worldwide” and where he met representatives of cultural and socio-cultural institutions New Yorkers in order to disseminate Italian culture and the image of Palermo and Sicily in the world. Furthermore, he was officially received by Ambassador Maurizio Massari, permanent representative of Italy to the United Nations.

Following his visit to New York, after a few days President Giuseppe Di Franco received from the governor of the state of New York, Hon. Kathy Hochu, a letter of thanks and congratulations with a certificate of esteem and an invitation to come again in New York next year with a date to be defined for an institutional meeting with the governor himself.

On May 11th, in his capacity as President of the Federico II Study Center and in synergy with the Vatican and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, he held an international conference in Rome at the Vatican (Palazzo della Rovere) entitled: “The Earth Santa, Meeting Place” with the presence of illustrious speakers including H.E. Cardinal Fernando Filoni; His eminence Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi; the Rabbi of Jerusalem, the Bishop of Nazareth and the Imam of the Mosque of Rome, Nader Akkad representatives of the three monotheistic religions.
The event is broadcast globally by EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Furthermore, numerous national and international newspapers publish numerous articles on the conference.

On 3 June 2023 he received the “International City of Cefalù Award, the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea” in Cefalù with the following motivation: for his great ability as a cultural promoter in the international field.

On 22 October 2023 he received an honor from New York from one of the most important Italian-American institutions, the “Daughters & Sons of Italian Heritage Lodge” with the following motivation: “for his years of dedication and commitment in promoting history, culture and international friendship, for the Italian heritage.”