Madonna, the iconic American pop star, has pledged to fund a youth art initiative as part of her 66th birthday celebrations. The announcement was made during her visit to the historic Pompeii archaeological site on Friday, where she was accompanied by Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director.
While touring the ancient ruins, Madonna encountered a group of teenagers participating in the “Sogno di Volare” (“Dream of Flying”) project. This initiative, now in its fourth year, brings together young artists to perform adapted versions of Aristophanes’ comedies. Starting at Pompeii’s Teatro Grande, the performances tour various Italian theaters.
Madonna’s generous commitment will fund the “Dream of Flying” project for a year, contributing approximately 250,000 euros ($275,000). “This project generously supported by Madonna is strategic for Pompeii because it is directed to the people who live in this marvelous and complex territory, in particular youths,” said Zuchtriegel. He emphasized that many of the participants come from impoverished southern towns where school dropout rates and unemployment are notably high.
The show, backed by Madonna’s foundation, is set to take the stage at Pompeii’s Teatro Grande in May 2025, promising to be a cultural highlight in the region.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
