Carrara, 22 June 2011
The first year of Carrara Marble Week opened on 8 June to be subsequently extended to Sunday 26 June to satisfy those who wanted to keep the event that has renewed the relationship between the town and marble  alive  in Carrara’s old town. Now, even before its closure, the second year has been announced: it will open on 23 May 2012 together with CarraraMarmotec, the 31st International Fair for marble, technology and design due to take place at CarraraFiere from 23 to 26 May.
The announcement was given by CarraraFiere’s general manager, Paris Mazzanti, together with Carrara’s town mayor, Angelo Zubbani, during a meeting with the press, following the requests from entrepreneurs and artists who have shown great enthusiasm in the event and have seen the increasing interest from the Carrara townspeople as well as thousands of visitors from outside who have come to admire installations and sculptures, exhibitions and objects, shows and objects, shows and performances presented in ideal forms of communication in the streets, squares and buildings in the old town. A constant flow of people who have renewed their love for the town together with their admiration of marble which is its symbol.
“We realised that Carrara Marble Week could not just be a one-off event – said Paris Mazzanti in Piazza Alberica, chosen as the symbolic spot of the town and the event – and we were pleased to be able to satisfy the requests from partner companies and artists as well as all those who live and work in the old town. The event has become a “model” to be built upon and to stage the cultural activities around CarraraMarmotec. In this way we will have the business during the day and entertainment for operators in the evening at Carrara Marble Week in the old town which has proven to be extraordinarily inviting and suitable for this type of event. It has been a success which has stimulated us to renew it. Of course, in view of the organization involved that will be required for the second year too, the event will stay open longer than CarraraMarmotec, but we still have to fix dates and plans. I would however like to stress again the real support and cooperation from companies and institutions, associations and artists as without them everything would have been much more difficult. Next year we shall extend the invitation to participate to all companies exhibiting at CarraraMarmotec and we trust the reaction will be exceptional”.
Satisfied with the results, Maurizio Narra, representing the Chamber of Commerce of Massa Carrara which organised the arrival of a group of architects from all over the world “ to take part in an event but also to further the relationship and dialogue on current issues with the stone companies, a relationship – said Narra – that will have positive repercussions on the entire local area”.
The town mayor, Angelo Zubbani, was satisfied “because the event has hit the  target with a well-balanced mix of works, exhibitions and treasures as well as events that have attracted such a large number of people like never before. There has been a renewed interest in marble and the pride to be the material’s symbol town. I would prefer – Angelo Zubbani continued – the installations not to be removed altogether but gradually so that the effects of this rediscovery may remain until the much-awaited second year.”
The large David camping in the market square, the marble Cadillac and the Zero cube in Piazza Alberica will therefore continue to be shown and will leave the town at a later date.
The event will continue up until Sunday 26 June but it will be remembered by everyone as an event that was appreciated by all, organised by CarraraFiere with the support of leading companies in a project that has managed to put Carrara at the centre of attention by enhancing the specific culture of marble presented against the backdrop of the old town.
Partner companies include: Franchi Umberto Marmi; GEMEG; Il Fiorino; MT&S;  Italmarble Pocai; Savema; Società Apuana Marmi, Up Group and Martinelli Luce as technical sponsor.
Finally, the event also benefits from the decisive contribution from the Tuscan Regional Government, Toscana Promozione, Massa Carrara Province, Carrara Council, Carrara Savings Bank Foundation, Massa Carrara Chamber of Commerce, Carrara Savings Bank which is the sole bank sponsor and Carrara Fine Arts Academy which gave its most prestigious rooms for the event.