Deconsecrated Churches as Contemporary Art Spaces: A Growing Trend in Italy and Beyond
In Europe, the trend of transforming deconsecrated churches into spaces for contemporary art is on the rise, driven by a decrease in religious attendance. Italy boasts more than 65,000 documented religious structures, with some estimates suggesting the total exceeds 100,000. Since the year 2000, Germany has seen the closure of over 500 Catholic churches, with one-third being demolished and the remaining two-thirds repurposed. The Netherlands predicts more than 500 closures in the coming ten years. In Italy, 700 to 800 churches are reassessing their functions, guided by the Italian Bishops' Conference. Pope Francis has highlighted the importance of beauty in revitalizing urban areas. Noteworthy projects include Jannis Kounellis’s work in Bergamo, Sol LeWitt’s Cappella del Barolo, and TBA21’s Ocean Space in Venice. Additionally, the Sant'Agnese church in Padua is undergoing restoration to become a cultural venue.
Key facts
- Jannis Kounellis created an installation at Bergamo's ex-Oratorio di San Lupo in 2009.
- Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett restored the Cappella del Barolo in 1999.
- Anish Kapoor installed a work at Castello di Ama in Chianti.
- Dan Flavin's permanent light installation at Chiesa Rossa in Milan dates to 1996.
- Museo Francesco Messina is housed in the deconsecrated San Sisto al Carrobbio in Milan.
- Ocean Space in Venice's San Lorenzo church is a TBA21 permanent center.
- Italy has over 65,000 cataloged religious buildings; estimated total exceeds 100,000.
- Germany closed over 500 Catholic churches since 2000; Netherlands expects over 500 closures next decade.
- Italy saw 700–800 churches repurpose in recent years.
- Cardinal Ravasi issued guidelines in 2018 prioritizing cultural and social reuse of churches.
Entities
Artists
- Jannis Kounellis
- Sol LeWitt
- David Tremlett
- Anish Kapoor
- Dan Flavin
- Pipilotti Rist
- Bill Viola
- Recycle Group
- Sean Scully
- Stefano Arienti
- Andrea Mastrovito
- Claudio Parmiggiani
- Mimmo Paladino
- Lorna Simpson
- Gotthard Graubner
- Giovanni Muzio
- Francesco Messina
- Giotto
- Masaccio
- Caravaggio
- Lucio Fontana
- Getulio Alviani
- Okuda San Miguel
Institutions
- Fondazione Adriano Bernareggi
- Fondazione Prada
- Fondazione Alberto Peruzzo
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Academy (TBA21)
- Pontifical Council for Culture
- Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI)
- Pontifical Gregorian University
- Biennale di Venezia
- Museo Diocesano di Padova
- Museo Francesco Messina
- Gavin Brown's Enterprise
- KEWENIG
- Tenuta Ceretto
- Castello di Ama
- Artribune
Locations
- Bergamo
- Italy
- Milan
- Reggio Emilia
- Barolo
- Chianti
- Venice
- Padua
- Rome
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Maastricht
- Llanera
- Spain
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Berlin