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 September 21, 2024, he received the international “BOOKS FOR PEACE” award promoted in collaboration with UNESCO and UNFPA with the following motivation: “In consideration of his exceptional professional skills and his high human qualities, for his valuable work in favor of Peace, Human Rights and for the important work carried out by the prestigious Federico II Study Center”.

On December 11, 2023, he received an honor from Canada issued by “The Italian Canadian Youth Formation Centre” chaired by Dr. Enrico W. Del Castello, founder and president emeritus, (former senior media relations at the Canadian Department of State and Canadian delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in New York), with the following motivation: “For his high-profile professional commitment in promoting Italian art and culture in the world”.

On October 22, 2023, he received an honor from New York from one of the most important Italian-Tatunite 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.”

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

On March 29, 2023, he was officially invited, in his capacity 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 New York cultural and socio-cultural institutions in order to disseminate Italian culture and the image of Palermo and Sicily in the world. He was also 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 an attestation of esteem and with the invitation to travel to New York again next year with a date to be defined for an institutional meeting with the governor himself.

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

He carries out institutional and representative activities in Italy and abroad in the capacity of President of the Centro Studi Federico II 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.

He is the international coordinator and manager 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.

In May 2022 he received 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”.

He also received the “International Sicilian Excellence Award” (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”.

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

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

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.

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

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

In November 2015 he was awarded the title of “Academic of Sicily”.