GAMeC Director on Museum's Role During Pandemic: Community Over Collection

In a conversation with Artribune, Giovanna Brambilla, the director of GAMeC (Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea) in Bergamo, Italy, elaborates on how the museum adapted during the COVID-19 crisis. Instead of emphasizing digital artwork reproductions, GAMeC focused on engaging with the community and upholding ethical duties. The museum initiated the #Pleasedonate campaign to aid the local hospital, showcasing brief videos from artists and staff. Additionally, it launched Radio GAMeC, a daily 30-minute program that discusses news, art, literature, and society, featuring guests like Bruno Bozzetto and Stefano Boeri. The education team introduced ARTROOM, offering free online workshops for children and distributing activity booklets for families. Brambilla highlights the museum's mission as a 'beacon' rather than a watchtower, reflecting on ICOM Italy's proposal for a museum definition that emphasizes 'system of relations' and 'community well-being.' The discussion also addresses the emotional toll of the pandemic, the absence of in-person art experiences, and future plans to tackle solitude and honor losses, with Brambilla mentioning Antonio Rovaldi's exhibition 'November 27, 2017 / Inside Fairview Park' as representative of the prevailing sense of absence.