Fumetti nei Musei: Comics Explore Italian Museum Collections Online During Lockdown

During the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (MiBACT) made the entire collection of 'Fumetti nei Musei' (Comics in Museums) freely available online. The project, launched in December 2019 with an exhibition at the Istituto Centrale della Grafica in Rome, is now in its second edition. It features 29 Italian comic artists, each assigned to interpret a specific museum's collection through comics. The initiative is produced by MiBACT together with Coconino Press, directed by Ratigher. Artists include Altan, Palumbo, ZUZU, Fulvio Risuleo, Giacomo Nanni, Paolo Bacilieri, and Bianca Bagnarelli. Museums covered range from Villa Borghese in Rome to the Castello Scaligero di Sirmione, the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano, and the Parco dell'Appia Antica. Ratigher emphasized the goal of moving away from an educational, sacral approach toward play and human substance. The graphic design was handled by LRNZ, and Chiara Palmieri managed project development. During the health emergency, Coconino Press offers free digital versions daily on Issuu, with Sundays dedicated to the series. The project aims to keep art lovers engaged while museums remain closed.