Fiera Roma CEO Pietro Piccinetti Defends New Direction Against Critic Fabio Severino

Pietro Piccinetti, the sole administrator of Fiera Roma, addressed Fabio Severino's editorial published on January 4 in Artribune, highlighting significant changes since his appointment in April 2016 following a restructuring in late 2015. He acknowledged the challenges of inherited debts and infrastructure deficiencies, stressing the importance of enhancing urban connectivity. Piccinetti pointed out that more than ten new fairs have been introduced in the past two years, such as 'Novembre in Arte' and 'RO.ME – Museum Exhibition' in November 2018, the latter backed by UNESCO and featuring 29 panels, 134 speakers, and 500 museum directors. He defended ROMICS, a pop culture event that draws 200,000 attendees, despite Severino's critiques regarding its aesthetic and calls for enhancements. This dialogue underscores the ongoing conflict between commercial success and cultural significance in Rome’s fairs.