Matera's Ex Cinema Quinto Becomes State Archive: Director Pietro Sannelli on Memory, Community, and the Digital Future
Originally established as the Cinema Quinto in 1954 and crafted by Primo Egi, the venue is now known as the Archivio di Stato di Matera. It functioned as a cinema until the film industry crisis of the 1970s and 1980s led to its closure. Following renovations, it was repurposed as the archive's headquarters in 1988. The Quinto brothers sold the property to the archive in 2026. Since his appointment in 2022, Director Pietro Sannelli has made the archive accessible to the public through various exhibitions and events. On 6 July 2026, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli visited to review its development. The archive features collections from families such as Mazzarone and Ridola, with Sannelli focusing on building partnerships with schools and improving public engagement. Carla Cantore conducted the interview published in Artribune.
Fatti principali
- The former Cinema Quinto in Matera, designed by Primo Egi and opened in 1954, became the seat of the Archivio di Stato di Matera in 1988 after renovation.
- The building was originally owned by the Quinto brothers and operated as a cinema until the 1970s–80s.
- The archive acquired the property in 2026, completing a long process.
- Pietro Sannelli has been director of the Archivio di Stato di Matera since 2022.
- Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli visited the archive on 6 July 2026 in a private visit organized in 48 hours.
- The archive holds family collections including Mazzarone, Gattini, Padula, Malvinni Malvezzi, and Ridola.
- The archive collaborates with the Musei Nazionali di Matera, the Soprintendenza ABAP di Potenza, universities, schools, museums, libraries, and local associations.
- Ongoing basement works will expand the archive's storage and valorization activities.
Entità
Artisti
- Pietro Sannelli
- Primo Egi
- Alessandro Giuli
- Manupelli
- Carla Cantore
Istituzioni
- Archivio di Stato di Matera
- Cinema Quinto
- Musei Nazionali di Matera
- Soprintendenza ABAP di Potenza
- Artribune
Luoghi
- Matera
- Italy
- Potenza