Fabrizio Cieslakiewicz
F. Cieslakiewicz - A Commitment to Culture and Community
SUPSI Image Focus
For the period 2022 - 2025, BancaStato has decided to support the Accademia Dimitri in organising courses and theatre performances for the inhabitants of the Maggia Valley. Some of the proposed initiatives include circus activities for children from 12 years of age and a theatre course for children between six and ten years of age. Among the various ongoing projects, a performance is taking shape in Moghegno on 19 July. We interview the President of the Executive Board, Fabrizio Cieslakiewicz, on the role of his financial institution in promoting participatory activities rooted in the territory, and on the importance of ensuring educational and recreational activities at grassroots level.
Thanks to BancaStato's support, a family in Val Maggia can enrol their children in a theatre workshop at less than half the normal cost. What convinced BancaStato to support such an initiative?
It's a fine example of BancaStato's commitment to promoting an invaluable asset for the area: that generated by the countless entities or associations active in the cultural, social or sporting fields. For some time now, we have adopted an extensive sponsorship policy: we currently support over 600 events or associations, and in 2023 we will have allocated over CHF 4.5 million to them. In five years this figure will exceed CHF 16 million.
As a cantonal bank, we have always worked in and for the region. Our public mandate has been guiding us towards socially responsible behaviour for almost 110 years, and this is also realised by our willingness to allocate hundreds of targeted financial support to those who ultimately create social events, foster culture, or the healthy values of sport. It is worth emphasising that such supports, accounting-wise, are costs and as such mitigate the year-end profit. However, for us, they are not costs at all, but are considered investments for the community. In short, from a financial point of view it is important for us to grow, to achieve a 'how much', but equally important is the 'how' this is achieved. This particular approach derives first and foremost from our public mandate. Being at the side of associations or realities active in the territory is for us one of the different ways in which we realise this mandate. Speaking specifically of the courses at the Accademia Dimitri, we are particularly proud that our support can help young people in Ticino to have access to such a high level of cultural offerings.
In 'peripheral' regions, initiatives such as the Accademia Dimitri play a role in counteracting depopulation or encouraging young families to settle in the valley. What advantages does he see in terms of cultural, social but also economic sustainability?
Centres of competence, in this case cultural, such as the Accademia Dimitri are undoubtedly an added value for any community or region, and this is especially true for a charming but objectively peripheral corner such as the Maggia Valley. The wealth creation triggered by such realities certainly has financial dimensions in that it stimulates the local economy in many respects, but its benefits also go beyond the economic aspects and are also reflected in the cultural and social background of the region: aspects that precisely constitute intangible but important wealth. Often the adjective 'virtuous' is attached to a concept or element with a sustainable scope, precisely to emphasise its ability to trigger beneficial effects in the short and medium term for its stakeholders. I believe that the Dimitri Academy is an excellent example of this. Regardless of the specific case of the Accademia Dimitri, it must also be said that our commitment to sustainability - in this case social sustainability - also takes into account the current economic situation, which not least has an impact on household budgets. For our part, we therefore want to contribute in our own small way to ensuring access to these fine initiatives for a significant number of young people in Ticino. And should families need further advice on the subject of youth and savings, BancaStato and the other cantonal banks provide an interesting initiative free of charge: just browse the website budgetgiovani.ch.
BancaStato supports hundreds of events each year. How much do sustainability aspects play a role in the granting of financial support?
In recent years, sustainability aspects have also progressively played a role in the choice of events we support. In this sense, BancaStato has decided to adopt an approach aimed at raising awareness and also taking into account 'exclusion criteria'. With regard to this last point, we omit events or activities with an environmental impact deemed disproportionate to social, cultural or sporting objectives. Our commitment to this is also manifested in contributions that are not purely monetary but also logistical: for many gastronomic events, even large ones, we offer a reusable crockery service.