BDC28: A Deconsecrated Church Turned Cultural Hub in Parma

In Parma, collectors Lucia Bonanni and Mauro Del Rio have transformed a deconsecrated 17th-century church into BDC28, a multifunctional cultural headquarters. Acquired in 2015 from a bankruptcy auction, the space hosts concerts, DJ sets, exhibitions, parties, and literary events. The acronym BDC stands for Bonanni, Del Rio, and Catalog, not Collection. The collectors began with photography, focusing on Italian masters like Ghirri, Giacomelli, Basilico, and Fontana, and later expanded to street art and illustration, including works by Banksy, Peter Saville, and Douglas Coupland. They have also produced new works with artists like Nico Vascellari and the studio fuse*. Notable projects include "BDC3 – Fire and Desire" with live painting, "BDC6 – BDC Records" featuring vinyl cover photography and concerts, and "BDC12 – Patti Smith's Library" at Palazzo del Governatore. For Parma Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2020, BDC28 will launch "BDC-Hub," a daytime information and operational base, and "BDC-Block Party," a two-day street festival. The space retains its original religious architecture, with only necessary structural updates, preserving its history and spiritual atmosphere.