Giovanna Melandri bids farewell to MAXXI as Alessandro Giuli takes over

Giovanna Melandri has officially stepped down as president of the Fondazione MAXXI, with journalist Alessandro Giuli (born 1975 in Rome) set to take over on December 12. The handover was confirmed the evening before a celebratory event marking the museum's last ten years under Melandri's leadership. The Ministry of Culture under Gennaro Sangiuliano opted for a clear change of direction, entrusting Giuli with guiding the museum through the transition toward the Grande MAXXI project announced in February. Melandri's mandate ended on November 1. During her farewell speech, she highlighted the museum's achievements: 3.5 million visitors since 2010, €16 million in ticket revenue, and a record 219,551 tickets sold by October 2022 (up over 30% from 2019). The collection grew from 200 to nearly 700 artworks, and architecture archives increased from 13 to 102. The museum collaborated with over 250 companies, raising €16.5 million in fundraising and securing €2 million through grants. Melandri thanked artistic director Hou Hanru, Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, Margherita Guccione, Francesco Spano, and Pietro Barrera. She expressed hope that the new governance would realize the Grande MAXXI, inspired by New European Bauhaus values. Upcoming exhibitions include a retrospective of Enzo Cucchi and a project on Bob Dylan. Melandri stated, "I am leaving a jewel that needs care, dedication, and hard work."