One city, many children

One city, many children is an exhibition that tells the story of how Reggio Emilia’s municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools were born and the experiences within them. An initial prologue (1860-1945) is followed by different sections of deeper exploration divided into decades, from Liberation after the war to the present time.

The narrative is developed around some central themes:

participation by the city and families

the central protagonist role of women and the women’s movements

the municipality’s educational politics/policies

the relationship between pedagogy and politics

the original pedagogical thinking, which is internationally acknowledged.

IN DEPTH ANALYSIS

This story is part of the history of Italian education and culture, which in turn reference other stories and histories. The connections with Italian and international events emerges through references to literature, cinema, the arts and music, offering visitors a map to better find their way.

The exhibition opens with a video story of the period between 1860 and the opening of the first municipal preschool in 1963. Decade by decade the history is then developed following three layers of reading.

Text on panels introduces the time in history and connects this with experience of education in Reggio Emilia, highlighting which schools and centres opened.

A visual history on screens tells the story of education in Reggio Emilia, referencing the local situation and the national context

On a lower part of the panels a red thread takes us through selected events around the world and in Italy, giving a broader historical context.