Turin, the city that made the auto industry and culture the bulwark of its identity, locally and internationally now sees Fiat Group becoming the sponsor of the Stabile di Torino Theatre Foundation.

Fiat Group and the Stabile di Torino Theatre Foundation (TST): two worlds that, at first glance, seem distant from one another, have discovered their mutual affinity and accord in giving their name in support of the tenets of creativity; united by a profound international vocation and strong innovative vision. From these common objectives, an important partnership was established in Turin, the city that made the automobile industry and culture the bulwark of its identity, locally and internationally, with Fiat Group becoming the Main Sponsor of the TST Foundation.

The Stabile di Torino Theatre, founded in 1955 and transformed into a Foundation in 2004, is one of the most important public theatres in Italy. Since its inception, it has been a pillar of artistic innovation and the laboratory for a heightened sense of social and civil cultural excellence.

The sponsorship agreement, sealed by Luca De Meo, Chief Marketing Officer of Fiat Group, and Evelina Christillin, President of the Stabile di Torino Theatre Foundation, provides that Fiat Group will be the Main Sponsor for the TST’s 2008-09 and 2009-10 Theatre Seasons, encompassing all performances planned and organized by the Stabile Theatre in the City of Turin and Piedmont. The agreement also grants Fiat Group the right to make use of the image of the Stabile di Torino Theatre Foundation, for a consideration to TST, equal to € 200.000, during each Theatre Season.

“Linking Fiat’s name to a centre of excellence like the Stabile Theatre,” commented Luca De Meo, “underscores the important connection the Group has with this territory and its willingness to contribute to the growth and appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of the City of Turin and the entire country. This choice is also a way to affirm our sense of responsibility and attention toward community; something we intend to pursue in our development process in the conviction that art and culture are important elements of progress for society as a whole.”

“I am truly pleased and honoured that Fiat, the unquestioned leader of the Piedmontese and Italian entrepreneurial spirit for more than a century, has accepted to link its trademark and strategies for culture and promotion with those of the Stabile di Torino Theatre Foundation,” declared Evelina Christillin. “In particular, we are proud of the trust instilled in an artistic institution like ours which is increasingly investing in a young audience that is contemporary and participatory, much like the customer base that this automobile industry corporate citizen is trying to reach through its completely renewed products and brands successfully relaunched on the international market.

“Finally, we hope that other private companies, following the example of the new Fiat - Stabile Theatre collaboration, will become increasingly more involved, alongside public agencies, in support of cultural initiatives that have been operating with professionalism, enthusiasm and profitably in the territory for many years now,” she added.