Gibellina Mayor Defends City's Readiness for 2026 Italian Capital of Contemporary Art

Gibellina Mayor Salvatore Sutera has publicly responded to critical commentary by Vito Ancona regarding the city's preparations for its 2026 designation as Italy's first Capital of Contemporary Art. In a letter published by Artribune, Sutera refutes allegations of inefficiencies, power struggles, and clientelism, calling them baseless and damaging to the city's reputation. He emphasizes that the event has not yet occurred and thus cannot be evaluated, and denies claims of illegal building practices in Gibellina. Sutera also challenges Ancona's references to the resignation of Calogero Pumilia from the Orestiadi Foundation, asserting that no evidence supports the suggestion of improper motives. Ancona's original article had drawn parallels between Gibellina's challenges and those of Agrigento, which struggled as Italian Capital of Culture. In his response, also published by Artribune, Ancona clarifies he was not criticizing the current administration but rather highlighting the need for expert management to preserve Gibellina's artistic legacy, including its Transavanguardia collections and public art. He notes the involvement of respected figures like Andrea Cortellessa and Achille Bonito Oliva in the Orestiadi Foundation, and expresses concern over the decline of the town's theater festival since the era of director Franco Quadri. Ancona stresses his support for Gibellina and hopes his critique will spur greater efforts to realize the city's potential.