Bologna's Villa delle Rose to become interfaith center, sparking art community outcry
In 2025, Bologna's Villa delle Rose, which served as the Galleria d'Arte Moderna (GAM) from 1925 until the establishment of MAMbo in 2007, will transform into the 'Casa dell'incontro e del dialogo tra religioni e culture.' Mayor Matteo Lepore revealed this initiative, which has faced backlash from the art community. Gino Gianuizzi, the NEON founder, initiated a petition advocating for the villa to remain a contemporary art venue. This project arises from a 2021 agreement involving the Comune, Church of Bologna, Jewish Community, Islamic Community, and University of Bologna. Renovations are set to commence in autumn 2024, with the opening planned for 2025, financed through public and private donations. The situation is complicated by ongoing disputes regarding Palazzo Pepoli, which will host the Museo Morandi by 2026.
Key facts
- Villa delle Rose in Bologna will become a House of Encounter and Dialogue between Religions and Cultures from 2025.
- The villa served as the city's Galleria d'Arte Moderna from 1925 to 1975 and later as a MAMbo exhibition space.
- Mayor Matteo Lepore announced the plan, sparking opposition from the art community led by Gino Gianuizzi.
- Gianuizzi launched a petition on Change.org arguing the villa should remain a contemporary art space.
- The project originates from a 2021 protocol signed by Comune, Church of Bologna, Jewish Community, Islamic Community, and University of Bologna.
- The Casa will include a room of silence, meetings, seminars, interfaith exhibitions, reading groups, and music spaces.
- Lepore stated that art will be central to the project and no one will remove contemporary art from the villa.
- Renovation work begins autumn 2024, with opening planned for early 2025, funded by public and private contributions.
Entities
Artists
- Marina Abramović
- Ulay
- Gina Pane
- Hermann Nitsch
- Luigi Ontani
- Franco Vaccari
- Gino Gianuizzi
- Danilo Eccher
- Francesco Arcangeli
- Guido Zucchini
- Dante Trebbi
- Leone Pancaldi
- Nerina Armandi Avogli
Institutions
- Villa delle Rose
- Galleria d'Arte Moderna (GAM) Bologna
- MAMbo
- Comune di Bologna
- NEON
- Change.org
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna
- Università di Bologna
- Università di Bologna - DAMS
- Università di Bologna - Master in arti visive: arte, museologia e curatela
- Fondazione Carisbo
- Genus Bononiae
- Museo Morandi
- Palazzo Pepoli
- Chiesa di Bologna
- Comunità Ebraica di Bologna
- Comunità Islamica di Bologna
- Artribune
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy
- Quartiere Saragozza
- Villa delle Rose
- Palazzo Pepoli
- MAMbo
- via Don Minzoni
- Biennale di Venezia
- Venezia