Italy

The objective of the International Shang Shung Institute for Tibetan Studies is to promote all initiatives that function to spread and deepen knowledge of Tibetan culture, in order to ensure its survival.
The Institute organizes courses, study seminars, lectures, exhibitions and publications; it is an active multi-media documentation center on Tibetan culture; offers scholarships to young Tibetans, promoting research and exchanges between Tibet and Western countries.
The Institute was founded in 1989 by Ch?gyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, former professor of Tibetan language and literature at the Institute for Oriental Studies, Naples University. It is a cultural, non-profit association without political aims.
The Institute’s main seat is in Arcidosso, Italy (Province of Grosseto in Tuscany). Other branches are in Austria and in the United States.
Over the years the Institute has carried out a series of initiatives, collaborating with a variety of Universities, Foundations and Museums in various parts of the world. These were due, in part, to the support of UNESCO, the European Parliament, the Italian Foreign Office and the region of Tuscany.

 The Institute is active in four main areas: 

Staff & Collaborators:

Luigi Ottaviani. Director.  l.ottaviani@shangshunginstitute.org
Luisa Velasco. Secretary & Administration.  l.velasco@shangshunginstitute.org
Salima Celeri. Courses Coordinator. s.celeri@shangshunginstitute.org
Dan Zegunis. Art Director, Audio Archives. d.zegunis@shangshunginstitute.org
Topgyal Gontse Lama. Audio Archives, Multimedia & Library. t.gontse@shangshunginstitute.org
Dina Priymak. Video Archives, Multimedia. d.priymak@shangshunginstitute.org
Marialuisa Delogu. Marketing & Events. m.delogu@shangshunginstitute.org
Maurizio Mingotti. Books for Public. m.mingotti@shangshunginstitute.org
Elisa Copello. Tibetan Medicine. elisa_cop@libero.it 
Tiziana Gottardi. Shang Shung Editions. shangshunged@tiscali.it
Igor Legati. Shang Shung Editions. edizss@tiscali.it