Chiara Casarin Appointed Artistic Director of Museo Canova di Possagno

Chiara Casarin, currently director of the Musei Civici di Bassano del Grappa, has been named artistic director of the Museo Canova di Possagno. The appointment unites the two museums under a single director, fulfilling a wish expressed in 1858 by Giambattista Sartori Canova, the artist's half-brother, who donated works to both institutions. The Museo Canova di Possagno holds a major collection of Antonio Canova's neoclassical sculptures, along with his birthplace, library, and archive. The museum is preparing to celebrate the bicentenary of Canova's death on October 13, 2022. Casarin holds a degree in Semiotics of Art from the University of Bologna, a PhD in History of Architecture and Restoration from Venice's Scuola di Studi Avanzati, and a diploma as a master restorer. She has curated exhibitions in Italy and abroad and published the 2015 essay "L'autenticità nell'arte contemporanea." Since becoming director of the Bassano museums in 2016, she increased visitor numbers and revenue by 30% in the first half of 2017 compared to 2016, despite introducing free admission for residents. The unified directorship aims to develop a coordinated project for the Canova bicentenary.