On Feb. 24, 2024, marking the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Italian officials responsible for Milan UNESCO City of Literature launched “Odesa Readings – Not Just Words” and invited other Cities of Literature to join readings in support of the Odesa Literary Museum, whose exhibitions were closed due to the war.
The leaders of the initiative, which was joined by 15 other Cities of Literature, are Liù Palmieri in charge of the Special Projects office of Milan Public Library, and her colleague Laura Teruzzi. They are the head of Milan’s office of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Why did Milan decided to support Odesa city and the Odesa Literary Museum at such a symbolic moment? What were the main driving forces behind this initiative?
The initiative originated from one of our partners, the Laboratory of the Mondadori Foundation. They had already established contacts with authors and managers of the Odesa Literature Museum, and they genuinely wanted to offer support – not only morally, but culturally as well. Since the museum was closed, they envisioned a kind of virtual reopening, to take place in various cities around the world – particularly those that are part of the Creative Cities network – each becoming a spokesperson for Odesa’s culture.
This virtual reopening took place through readings of Ukrainian authors. Naturally, we asked the Literature Museum to provide us with an ideal reading list – the authors they considered representative of Odesa and Ukrainian culture more broadly. From this list, cities selected specific authors to be read in their own language.
How did the “Readings for Odesa – Not Just Words” campaign unfold in Milan? What events were organized, and who participated?
In Milan, alongside the reading – which was performed on stage by one of Italy’s most well-known television actresses – we held a discussion on Odesa and Ukraine’s literary heritage, as well as the current situation. Meanwhile, images of related international initiatives were projected in the venue. Maya Dimerli, our key person in Odesa, also sent us photos showing the destruction caused by bombings. It was incredibly powerful. The venue at the Brera Center was completely full – overwhelmed, really – and the audience was deeply engaged.
How did the Milanese public respond to the readings dedicated to Ukraine and Odesa? Did these events affect perceptions of the war and the injuries suffered by a Milan’s literary twin?
The atmosphere in the room was very emotional, especially when certain moving passages were read. Even texts not written during the war had a powerful effect when read in this context—the audience was deeply involved. You could feel a strong energy, a sense of emotion, respect, and curiosity. It was truly moving.
And it was a wonderful opportunity to discover a literature that is not well-known here, in part due to the language barrier. At the end, we published a dedicated webpage on our site featuring the reading list provided by Maya, one prepared by the Mondadori Lab, and a number of additional contributions.
The project was titled “Not Just Words.” What meaning do you attach to this phrase? Does it suggest that beyond words of support, you were also aiming for concrete action?
Words are a means, and I wouldn’t say “just” words – language has enormous power. Using it well can change the world, in my view. If we all tried to purify the way we speak, maybe the world would be a better place. Language has sometimes an explosive capacity to bring about change, and this initiative sought to show how the collective power of people who share a belief in language’s strength can become a small drop in an ocean – but one drop plus another and another, make a sea.
What is the long-term significance of these cultural exchanges and initiatives during wartime? Can they help strengthen ties between cities and people?
One of the beautiful things about our network is the rich exchange of ideas. Each city contributes its own flavor but also has its own working methods. Sometimes this makes you feel at home – seeing that others do what you do, even when you wouldn’t have guessed it. Other times, it opens your eyes to something completely new. Good ideas are worth sharing – and adapting. When you bring another city’s idea home and adjust it to your reality, you transform and enrich it. That’s a truly beautiful process.
Does Milan intend to continue its collaboration with Odesa, perhaps through new literary or cultural projects? What are your future goals?
This wasn’t our only initiative dedicated to Ukraine. We also named a reading room in one of our local libraries after journalist Victoria Amelina, who was killed by a Russian missile.
As for our goals, we follow those laid out by the UNESCO network. Member cities receive clear objectives – one of which is the pursuit of peace. Not just social peace, but a model of community that is more cohesive, shared, and sustainable in the long term. So, our work within the network involves cooperating with other cities on projects aligned with that vision. Odesa, for its part, continues to offer initiatives that resonate with those values.
Since the port on the Black Sea has always been a city at the crossroads of diverse cultures and languages, the Odesa Literature Office has proposed a new project “Poetry in the Cities of Literature.” This is a celebration of the phonetic beauty and music of the different languages of contemporary poets, using also augmented reality. How do you see this new creative initiative with Odesa?
We’re working to involve five Milanese poets, selected to reflect different ages, genders, and poetic styles. We absolutely support this initiative – it merges traditional dissemination with a layer of technological interaction, using an app developed by Ukrainian creatives. It really captures the essence of what a UNESCO Creative City should be doing: using literature and its legacy to support the local creative community.
Moreover, it shines a light on UNESCO Cities of Literature – something not widely known. The texts are short and accessible, with the added bonus of being available in the original languages. So, it’s also about celebrating linguistic and cultural richness. We are working to be ready in time for Milan to be the next participating city.
“Odesa is incredibly fortunate to find itself in the company of such wonderful people who genuinely love and understand the value of literature,” Maya Dimerli, head of the Odesa UNESCO City of Literature office said about this project. “And it is precisely thanks to the first step taken by Milan that everything is just beginning.”