Italian Museums Converted into COVID-19 Vaccination Centers
Since January 2021, numerous Italian museums and cultural spaces have been repurposed as vaccination hubs to accelerate the national COVID-19 immunization campaign. The Castello di Rivoli was the first, launching a pilot project with the City of Rivoli and ASL TO3. The Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan partnered with Ospedale San Giuseppe (Gruppo MultiMedica) to administer up to 500 vaccines daily at Spazio Olona. The MUMAC museum in Binasco began vaccinating 270 over-80s on March 22. Giorgio Armani's Armani/Teatro in Milan hosts employee vaccinations. The association Bauli in Piazza, representing entertainment workers, provides logistical support. The initiative "La Cultura Cura" by Cultura Italiae coordinates with ASLs to use libraries, cinemas, museums, and theaters. The Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte in Naples set up a vaccination center at the Fagianeria, featuring art reproductions and offering reduced admission. The Museo Castromediano in Lecce accommodates 2,500 people daily, with a photo exhibition and live piano music. These efforts aim to combine cultural engagement with public health.
Key facts
- Castello di Rivoli was first museum to host vaccinations, starting January 2021.
- Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia in Milan aims for 500 vaccines per day.
- MUMAC in Binasco started vaccinating over-80s on March 22, 2021.
- Armani/Teatro in Milan vaccinates Armani Group employees.
- Bauli in Piazza provides logistical coordination for vaccination sites.
- Cultura Italiae's 'La Cultura Cura' program repurposes cultural venues.
- Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte offers art reproductions and reduced tickets.
- Museo Castromediano in Lecce hosts 2,500 people daily with music.
- Fiorenzo Galli is Director General of Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia.
- Sylvain Bellenger is director of Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte.
- Aldo Patruno is director of Dipartimento turismo, economia della cultura e valorizzazione del territorio for Puglia.
- Angelo Argento is president of Cultura Italiae.
- Carolyn Christov Bakargiev is director of Castello di Rivoli.
- Angelo Cordone is Director General of ASST Melegnano and Martesana.
- Giorgio Armani personally supported the vaccination campaign.
- Mario Viscardi is spokesperson for Bauli in Piazza.
- Ciro Verdoliva is director of ASL Napoli 1 Centro.
- Paolo Gioli's photo exhibition is shown at Museo Castromediano.
- Bruno Di Marino curated the Paolo Gioli exhibition.
- Associazione Mozart Italia a Lecce and Conservatorio provide music.
Entities
Artists
- Tiziano
- Parmigianino
- Guido Reni
- Andrea Belvedere
- Eduardo Dalbono
- Francesco Liani
- Antonio Joli
- Paolo Gioli
- Bruno Di Marino
Institutions
- Castello di Rivoli
- Città di Rivoli
- ASL TO3
- Museo Nazionale Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
- Ospedale San Giuseppe
- Gruppo MultiMedica
- MUMAC – Museo della Macchina per Caffè di Gruppo Cimbali
- Gruppo Cimbali
- ASST di Melegnano e della Martesana
- Armani/Teatro
- Gruppo Armani
- Bauli in Piazza
- Cultura Italiae
- Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
- ASL Napoli 1 Centro
- Museo Castromediano di Lecce
- Regione Puglia
- ASL Lecce
- Associazione Mozart Italia a Lecce
- Conservatorio di Lecce
- Artribune
- Museo di Arte Contemporanea di Rivoli
Locations
- Italia
- Rivoli
- Torino
- Milano
- Lombardia
- Binasco
- Napoli
- Lecce
- Puglia
- Via Olona 6, Milano
- Via Bergognone, Milano
- Piazza Duomo, Milano