Italian Court Overturns Appointments of Museum Super-Directors
The Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) has overturned the appointments of five 'super-directors' for Italy's state museums, a decision stemming from a reform initiated by Culture Minister Dario Franceschini. The ruling favored a candidate who was excluded, contesting the eligibility of non-Italian citizens in the selection process. The directors impacted by this decision include Anna Coliva (Galleria Borghese, Rome), Cristiana Collu (GNAM, Rome), Flaminia Gennari Santori (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome), Eike Schmidt (Uffizi, Florence), and Paola Marini (Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice). The TAR also criticized the lack of transparency in interviews and evaluation criteria. Minister Franceschini intends to appeal, citing EU law that permits non-Italian citizens to lead museums.
Key facts
- TAR Lazio annulled appointments of five super-directors of Italian state museums.
- The court accepted a complaint against opening the competition to non-Italian citizens.
- Affected directors: Anna Coliva, Cristiana Collu, Flaminia Gennari Santori, Eike Schmidt, Paola Marini.
- Other appointments including James Bradburne and Sylvain Bellenger are also at risk.
- TAR criticized evaluation criteria as 'magmatic' and interviews as lacking transparency.
- Minister Dario Franceschini expressed dismay, calling the ruling 'painful'.
- The ministry plans to appeal to the Council of State.
- The ruling has immediate effect, leaving five museums without directors.
Entities
Artists
- Eva Degl'Innocenti
- Paolo Giulierini
- Carmelo Malacrino
- Peter Assmann
- Martina Bagnoli
- Dario Franceschini
- Virginia Raggi
Institutions
- Galleria Borghese
- GNAM
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica
- Uffizi
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
- Palazzo Reale di Genova
- Polo Reale di Torino
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Capodimonte
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Firenze
- Bargello
- Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria
- Reggia di Caserta
- Museo Nazionale di Napoli
- Paestum
- Museo Archeologico di Taranto
- Museo Archeologico di Reggio Calabria
- Palazzo Ducale di Mantova
- Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
- Palazzo Ducale e Galleria Estense di Modena
- TAR Lazio
- Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo (MIBACT)
- Consiglio di Stato
- Corte europea
- Il Sole 24 Ore
- MIBACT
- MARTA
- MANN
- Galleria Estense di Modena
- Parco del Colosseo
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Florence
- Venice
- Genoa
- Turin
- Milan
- Naples
- Perugia
- Caserta
- Paestum
- Taranto
- Reggio Calabria
- Mantua
- Marche
- Modena
- Lazio