Galleria Continua Director Challenges French Culture Minister Over Nicolas Bourriaud's Dismissal

Lorenzo Fiaschi, co-director of Galleria Continua with locations in Les Moulins, San Gimignano, and Beijing, has publicly questioned French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin's abrupt termination of Nicolas Bourriaud as director of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA). In an open letter dated July 7, 2015, Fiaschi expressed bewilderment at the decision, arguing that Bourriaud appears uniquely qualified to advance the minister's stated goals of cultural diversity and enhanced collaboration among educational institutions. The letter directly challenges Pellerin to disclose the genuine motivations behind her action, asserting that transparency, justice, and exemplary conduct are essential for political authority, especially during France and Europe's current difficulties. Fiaschi co-directs Galleria Continua alongside Mario Cristiani and Maurizio Rigillo. While acknowledging unverified allegations of nepotism reported by Le Canard Enchaîné, the correspondence focuses on the apparent contradiction between Bourriaud's qualifications and his dismissal. The director insists that democratic principles demand clear justification for such significant institutional changes.