Francesca Corrao Takes Helm of Fondazione Orestiadi as Gibellina Prepares for 2026 Capital of Contemporary Art
Francesca Corrao, the daughter of the late senator Ludovico Corrao, has taken over as president of the Fondazione Orestiadi in Gibellina, Sicily, following Calogero Pumilia's resignation in January 2025. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage designated Gibellina as Italy's inaugural 'Capital of Contemporary Art' for 2026, recognizing the 'Portami il futuro' initiative led by Roberto Albergoni and the MeNo Foundation. As a professor at LUISS University, Corrao is committed to advancing her father's legacy of cultural renewal through art and community involvement. The Fondazione Orestiadi is set to resume activities, including the 44th Orestiadi Festival from June 27 to August 2, alongside artist residencies. Additionally, Corrao is tackling funding challenges related to the Fabbriche Chiaramontane in Agrigento.
Key facts
- Francesca Corrao is the new president of Fondazione Orestiadi.
- Gibellina is the first 'Capitale dell'Arte Contemporanea' for 2026.
- The project 'Portami il futuro' was written by Roberto Albergoni and MeNo Foundation.
- Calogero Pumilia resigned as president in January 2025.
- The 44th Orestiadi Festival runs from June 27 to August 2, 2025.
- Museo delle Trame Mediterranee extended hours doubled visitor numbers.
- Artist residencies in 2025 include Nunzio Di Stefano, Renata Boero, Francesco De Grandi, and Anna Lorenzetti.
- Emilio Isgrò will receive honorary citizenship of Gibellina in June 2025.
- The Fondazione closed its Agrigento venue due to lack of funds.
- Corrao is a professor of Arabic studies at LUISS University.
Entities
Artists
- Francesca Corrao
- Ludovico Corrao
- Emilio Isgrò
- Nunzio Di Stefano
- Renata Boero
- Francesco De Grandi
- Anna Lorenzetti
- Alberto Burri
- Pietro Consagra
- Arnaldo Pomodoro
- Mario Schifano
- Totò Scialoja
- Carlo Levi
- Renato Guttuso
- Danilo Dolci
- Leonardo Sciascia
- Valerio Magrelli
- Adonis
- Battacharia
- Rashid Kouraishi
- Adel al-Siwi
- Hélène Berenger
- Rita Ernst
- Mimmo Paladino
- Virgilio Sieni
- Lorenzo Romito
- Francesco Impellizzeri
- Jubran Khalil Jubran
- Ralph W. Emerson
- Daiskau Ikeda
Institutions
- Fondazione Orestiadi
- Ministero dei Beni Culturali
- Fondazione MeNo
- LUISS University
- Università La Sapienza
- American University in Cairo
- Harvard University
- Parco della Valle dei Templi
- Gran Paradis International Film Festival
- Festival Illustramente
- Aragno Editore
Locations
- Gibellina
- Sicily
- Italy
- Palermo
- Rome
- Agrigento
- Trapani
- Belice Valley
- Cairo
- Egypt
- Boston
- United States
- Tunis
- Tunisia
- Milan
- Switzerland