Italy allocates €3.3M for contemporary art and photography

The Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and for Tourism has launched two calls for funding totaling €3.3 million to support contemporary art and photography. The PAC – Piano per l’Arte Contemporanea 2020 has a budget of €2 million for acquiring, producing, and promoting contemporary artworks, including international pieces, to enhance Italian public collections. It targets works by living artists or those created within the last 50 years, and supports public commissions for established, mid-career, and emerging artists, including site-specific works. Eligible applicants include all Italian public museums, archaeological parks, and cultural venues, even those managed by non-profit private entities, as well as networks of museums. The deadline is December 18, 2020. The Strategia Fotografia 2020 call allocates €1.3 million for acquiring, commissioning, conserving, and promoting photography, both Italian and international. It is open to museums and cultural institutions aiming to expand their photography collections, as well as non-profit entities, foundations, associations, and third-sector organizations involved in exhibitions, festivals, and events. The deadline is November 27, 2020. Minister Dario Franceschini stated that these initiatives strengthen support for Italian contemporary creativity, offering innovative interpretations of reality and fostering critical vision.