European Museums Face Energy Crisis: Closures, Reduced Hours, and Green Transition Plans
The energy crisis, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is severely impacting cultural institutions across Europe. Museums, libraries, and heritage sites face soaring electricity and gas costs, with some predicting increases up to 400%. NEMO (Network of European Museum Organisations) has urged policymakers to increase operational budgets and provide emergency funds. In Italy, museums like the Reggia di Caserta, MAMbo Bologna, MAXXI Rome, Gallerie Estensi Modena, Pinacoteca di Brera, Triennale Milano, Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia, and Museo Egizio Torino are implementing short-term measures (LED lighting, reduced hours, lower temperatures) and long-term strategies (photovoltaic systems, building insulation, geothermal energy) often funded by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). The crisis also highlights the cultural dimension of energy, with former power plants being converted into museums (Tate Modern, CaixaForum Madrid, MAAT Lisbon, Centrale Montemartini Rome) and art projects like Olafur Eliasson's Little Sun promoting renewable energy. The article includes interviews with directors and a case study of Enel's conversion of the Montalto di Castro nuclear plant into an Energy Museum.
Key facts
- Energy costs for museums could rise up to 400% this winter.
- NEMO calls for increased operational budgets and emergency funds for museums.
- Italian museums are adopting LED lighting, reduced hours, and lower heating.
- PNRR allocates €300 million for energy efficiency in Italian cultural venues.
- Enel is converting the former Montalto di Castro nuclear plant into an Energy Museum.
- Olafur Eliasson's Little Sun provides solar-powered lamps to off-grid communities.
- Tate Modern, CaixaForum Madrid, and MAAT Lisbon are former power plants turned museums.
- Museums face a dilemma between energy savings and their social mission.
Entities
Artists
- Olafur Eliasson
- Frederik Ottesen
- Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
- Giacomo Balla
- Piero Portaluppi
- Ettore Conti
- Norbert Bisky
- Marc Brandenburg
- Ali Kepenek
- Sven Marquardt
- Carsten Nicolai
- Piotr Natahn
- Friederike von Rauch
- Sarah Schönfeld
- Viron Erol Vert
- Patrick O'Mahony
- Ollie Howitt
- Tadeusz Kantor
- Leonid Mikhelson
- Teresa Iarocci Mavica
- Patrick Blanc
- Vladimir Djurovic
- Hennie van der Most
- Fabio Cataudella
- Patricia Viel
- Tiziana Maffei
- Lorenzo Balbi
- Giovanna Melandri
- Martina Bagnoli
- James Bradburne
- Carla Morogallo
- Cécilie Hollberg
- Giulio Manieri Elia
- Christian Greco
Institutions
- NEMO (Network of European Museum Organisations)
- ARERA (Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente)
- Deutsche Museumsbund
- ICOM (International Council of Museums)
- Enel Group
- ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel
- Tate Modern
- Reggia di Caserta
- MAMbo Bologna
- MAXXI Roma
- Gallerie Estensi Modena
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Triennale Milano
- Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
- Museo Egizio Torino
- CaixaForum Madrid
- MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology)
- Cricoteka
- V–A–C Foundation
- GES-2 House of Culture
- Centrale Montemartini
- Centrale Fies
- Little Sun
- Gallery Climate Coalition
- AMACI
- Pink Floyd
- Renzo Piano Building Workshop
- Herzog & de Meuron
- WilkinsonEyre
- AL_A (Amanda Levete Architects)
- Cooperativa Il Gaviale
- Artribune
Locations
- Italy
- Europe
- Paris
- France
- London
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Montalto di Castro
- Lazio
- Rome
- Milan
- Turin
- Bologna
- Modena
- Florence
- Venice
- Caserta
- Dro
- Kalkar
- Netherlands
- Weston-super-Mare
- Somerset
- Berlin
- Kreuzberg
- Friedrichshain
- Madrid
- Lisbon
- Belém
- Cracow
- Podgórze
- Moscow
- Bolotnaya
- Verampio
- Valdo
- Crevoladossola
- Piacenza
- Prague
- Ethiopia
- Copenhagen
- Denmark
- Iceland