BCC Iccrea launches Italy's largest private diffuse museum

The BCC Iccrea Group has announced BCC Arte&Cultura, the largest private diffuse museum in Italy, uniting art and historical-architectural heritage from 114 cooperative banks. Curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi, the project spans over 2,500 years from Magna Graecia archaeology to contemporary art. It includes a 3D online gallery, a catalog titled L'Arte dei Territori, educational programs for middle schools, and a reading initiative with book clubs. The announcement was made at the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense in Milan, part of the Grande Brera complex, where BCC funded restoration of numismatic and medallic volumes. The diffuse museum features over 100 works, including rediscovered pieces like a 1625-30 Christ Mocked attributed to Anthony van Dyck's workshop, Romualdo Locatelli's La classe degli asini (1936), and works by Afro, Franco Gentilini, and Filippo Carcano. The digital gallery was created by E-Muse. President Giuseppe Maino emphasized the project's aim to highlight the banks' identity and local ties, while director general Mauro Pastore linked it to PNRR goals in digitalization, innovation, and cultural tourism. Educational materials for middle schools are authored by Stefano Cravedi, and the book club, curated by Massimo Cuomo, features three novels on travel: Alma by Federica Manzon, Piero fa la Merica by Paolo Malaguti, and Tangerinn by Emanuela Anechoum.