Il Punto | The Point: New Cultural Hub Opens in Siena Uniting Three Organizations

On September 29, 2019, a new cultural hub called Il Punto | The Point opens in Siena, located just outside Porta Romana. The space brings together three organizations under one roof: the Siena Art Institute, the Mason Perkins Deafness Fund, and the Siena School for Liberal Arts, all led by Miriam Grottanelli de Santi. The hub aims to offer year-round programming spanning contemporary art, sustainability, accessibility, integration, and education. The opening day features workshops, labs, and presentations. A key project, Racconti dal Margine, involves Dutch duo Bik Van der Pol (Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol) in a residency funded by Regione Toscana and Toscanaincontemporanea2019, working with inmates, elderly home residents, disabled individuals, and peripheral communities. The project's outcomes will be shared publicly and on an online platform. Grottanelli de Santi emphasizes the hub's dual focus on local roots and international artistic community, fostering exchange with the city's contrade. She notes Siena's cultural resurgence following the Monte dei Paschi financial crisis, driven by collaboration and shared motivation.