Giulia Barrese appointed national fundraising lead for Young UNESCO

Giulia Barrese appointed national fundraising lead for Young UNESCO Italy

Appointment date: 23 May 2026

Vigevano-born cultural professional Giulia Barrese will be appointed national fundraising coordinator for the Italian Young UNESCO Association (AIGU) on 23 May 2026. The appointment is a significant step for engaging local communities in the protection and promotion of cultural heritage.

• Education: scientific high school diploma from Liceo “Cairoli”, two degrees in Literature and Philology from the University of Pavia and a Master’s in Cultural Heritage Management in Rome.
• Experience: training experience at the Ministry of Education headquarters and active AIGU member since 2023.
• Role: coordinate fundraising activities, manage private donations and help prepare projects to apply for public grants.

Barrese emphasizes spreading UNESCO values among young people and schools through educational initiatives such as Edu, which enable students to create content and run workshops. Her fundraising work will support local and national projects dedicated to cultural heritage protection.

Benefits for Vigevano and local engagement

According to the incoming coordinator, Vigevano holds valuable cultural assets that could benefit from stronger networks among local authorities, cultural associations and schools. Her involvement could lead to joint projects and increased cultural visitation in the area.

• Encourage collaboration between schools and local cultural organisations.
• Support initiatives to enhance artistic and cultural heritage.
• Seek funding through grants, while acknowledging the bureaucracy and timing challenges.

Note on membership calls: the association opened applications for new members with a deadline on 15 May 2026, and plans a second window in autumn. Interested individuals can use these opportunities to join the national network.

Barrese’s appointment offers a chance to strengthen ties between youth networks, institutions and Italy’s UNESCO heritage, with potential positive effects at local level.