Cristiana Perrella Unveils Plans for a ‘Normal’ Macro Museum in Rome

Cristiana Perrella, the new director of Rome’s Macro museum, presented her vision for the institution during a July press meeting at the rooftop restaurant Materia. Her plan aims to transform the troubled museum into a stable, community-focused space, departing from the ambitious but often unfulfilled projects of previous directors. Key initiatives include opening a 100-seat cinema with commercial and experimental programming, reopening the library for free consultation, establishing an archive center, rotating historical collections from storage, and attracting diverse audiences through interdisciplinary events and educational programs. The first major exhibition, “Unaroma,” co-curated with former director Luca Lo Pinto, will open in October in the Grande Sala, celebrating Rome’s art scene. Perrella emphasizes structural repairs and community needs over personal vanity, stating she will “gladly take a step back for the good of the institution.” However, the museum’s annual budget remains frozen at €700,000 (excluding salaries), insufficient for the planned renovations and staff increases. Perrella’s success hinges on political will from Rome’s city government, led by culture councillor Massimiliano Smeriglio, who expressed support but offered no additional funding. The article questions whether the municipality is truly committed to making Macro a major contemporary art museum for the capital.