James Bradburne on the Future of Museums: Inclusion, Intergenerational Dialogue, and the Sacred
Since June 2015, James Bradburne has served as the director general of Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera and Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense. A British national born in Toronto in 1955, he previously worked at the New Metropolis Science and Technology Centre in Amsterdam and at the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi in Florence from September 2006 until June 2015. He champions Enlightenment principles and discusses recent initiatives such as "Great Men" and "Peregrin and the Giant Fish." Highlighting the story of a Syrian immigrant at Brera, he advocates for inclusivity. Bradburne believes that the past requires fresh interpretations and encourages young professionals to embrace risks. He fluctuates between hope and doubt, asserting that while art provides comfort, it does not guarantee salvation.
Key facts
- James Bradburne is director general of Pinacoteca di Brera and Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense since June 2015.
- He was born in Toronto in 1955 and is a British citizen.
- He previously directed New Metropolis Science and Technology Centre, Museum Angewandte Kunst, and Next Generation Foundation.
- He was director general of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi from September 2006 to June 2015.
- His inspirations include Aby Warburg, Ernst Gombrich, Michael Baxandall, Fernanda Wittgens, Fernando Russoli, Alfred Barr, Comenius, Gianni Rodari, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.
- Recent projects at Brera include 'Great Men' (Zoom theater during Covid) and 'Peregrin and the Giant Fish' (puppet show).
- He emphasizes inclusion over accessibility, citing an imam describing Renaissance works for Syrian immigrants.
- He organizes monthly events bringing 200 books into the museum for families.
- He quotes Fernanda Wittgens: 'Art is our weapon against the bestiality of humanity.'
- He believes the sacred is separate from formal religion and linked to respect for diversity.
Entities
Artists
- James Bradburne
- Aby Warburg
- Ernst Gombrich
- Michael Baxandall
- Fernanda Wittgens
- Fernando Russoli
- Alfred Barr
- Comenius
- Gianni Rodari
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Otto Prutscher
Institutions
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense
- New Metropolis Science and Technology Centre
- Museum Angewandte Kunst
- Next Generation Foundation
- Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi
- BreraPlus
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Toronto
- Canada
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Frankfurt
- Germany
- Florence
- United Kingdom