The goal is to promote Calabrian culture through its authentic cuisine, virtual tourism and representative local products, transforming the Calabria Club into a revitalised hub for social and cultural connection.
This new centre aspires to unite older and younger Calabrians, encouraging the latter to embrace the Club as an extension of their own home, a place to reconnect with their rich cultural heritage.
This initiative, called the Centre of Excellence at the Calabria Club in Bulla, is the result of a collaboration between the club and the Segmento Foundation, led by Dr Giovanni Butera.
It’s also supported by Calabria Straordinaria, a project from Calabria itself designed to promote a new image of the area.
The Centre of Excellence is divided into four pillars: one dedicated to culture and events, another to promoting tourism, a third to traditional Calabrian products and finally, an Academy of Regional Cuisine offering cooking classes and demonstrations that feature iconic dishes from Calabria.
Let’s break down each section in more detail.
“The Calabria Club aims to be the heart of all social and cultural celebrations through this project,” explained Dr Butera, discussing the first pillar.
“This includes not just festivals, like the Tarantella Festival, but also the many religious celebrations deeply tied to Calabrian culture.”
Additionally, the club will host art exhibitions and history events, drawing on over forty titles from Rubbettino’s catalogue, which covers local places, cuisine, traditions and modern literature.
One of the first planned exhibitions, aside from the current display launched for the Melbourne Cup showcasing exquisite Calabrian-made hats, will be a Rubbettino photo exhibition about 1950s tuna fishing known as tonnara.
There will also be an art exhibit featuring paintings donated by the Region of Calabria depicting around twenty Calabrian villages.
The second pillar focuses on the promotion of virtual tourism. This effort includes significant partnerships, such as with the City of Tropea and Le vie della Perla.
Large screens have been installed to showcase films and documentaries provided by these partners, highlighting the region’s historical, scenic and artistic treasures.
“The City of Tropea has sent us over three hundred brochures and several videos showcasing this magnificent Tyrrhenian gem, while Le vie della Perla is a government-endorsed operator promoting Roots Tourism,” Butera added.
The Centre of Excellence also serves as a major showcase for traditional Calabrian products, many imported directly from Calabria through a partnership with Mercato Eccellenze Calabresi and with vital assistance from Liistro, who played a key role in the import and customs process.
Standout items include clementine juice, fig honey, dried fig crocette and unique jams like red onion from Tropea and liquorice flavours.
These and other gourmet products, both imported and local, will be available for purchase at a dedicated exhibition area within the club.
Rounding out the Centre of Excellence is the Calabrian Cooking Academy. As the name suggests, it will offer hands-on cooking classes, teaching participants how to prepare some of the region’s signature dishes and recipes.
The academy’s mission is to preserve Calabrian culinary traditions while promoting the use of authentic local ingredients.
The Centre of Excellence was officially inaugurated on Thursday, October 31, with a lively aperitivo featuring music by Mimmo Cavallaro.
The project is designed to evolve and grow, adding new products, initiatives and partnerships over time, creating fresh opportunities, especially for younger generations.
To begin this cultural journey, all you need to do is visit the Calabria Club in Bulla.
