The Italian Institute of Culture, located in Melbourne, is one of 93 Italian government cultural offices throughout the world which operate under the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs (M.A.F.) in Rome. These Institutes are intended to promote cultural relations and develop international links between Italy and other countries. Each Institute's main task is to 'share with its respective host nation the contemporary and historic aspects of Italian civilisation, as well as the wealth of its cultural and artistic heritage'.

Melbourne's Italian Institute of Culture provides Italian language courses, study groups that aim to expand familiarity with the Italian culture and information on the availability of the Italian scholarships offered annually.Throughout the year the Institute organises seminars, conferences and debates and many other events such as art exhibitions, film screenings, music recitals and concerts.

The Institute also hosts a library of over 9,000 volumes covering a wide range of subjects and a comprehensive collection of regional and scientific periodicals, slides, photographs, records, CDs and documentary video cassettes, focusing on contemporary Italy as well as historic changes.

The Institute represents an Italian cultural and artistic focal point in Melbourne, as well as servicing Regional Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

References:
Italian Institute of Culture website http://www.iicmelau.org/institute.html

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