Livorno's Magazzini Generali Transforms into Cultural Hub with New Foundation
The Magazzini Generali in Livorno, originally built as cargo warehouses in 1918, have been transformed into a vibrant cultural hub. This redevelopment kicked off over ten years ago with the Carico Massimo project in Warehouse 6, and in 2023, the space was revitalized as MG 48°50° latitudine arte contemporanea, led by artist-curator Juan Pablo Macías and Alessandra Poggianti, with branding by Brice Delarue. In April 2025, Livorno entered a 36-month agreement with the newly established Fondazione Magazzini Generali 48° 50°, chaired by Cesare Fremura, which now oversees more than 2,000 square meters, including a 600-square-meter exhibition area and a library. The COORDINATE biennial program, launched in July 2023, will culminate with an exhibition from September 13 to December 9, 2025, showcasing various artists. In 2026, artist residencies will begin, supported by Regione Toscana, utilizing a renovated building from the 1950s as part of a larger urban renewal effort in the Forte San Pietro area.
Key facts
- Magazzini Generali built in 1918 as cargo warehouses
- Project started over 10 years ago by Carico Massimo in Warehouse 6
- MG 48°50° latitudine arte contemporanea launched in 2023
- Directed by Juan Pablo Macías and Alessandra Poggianti
- Convention signed April 2025 between Comune di Livorno and Fondazione Magazzini Generali 48° 50°
- Foundation chaired by Cesare Fremura
- 36-month temporary use authorization
- Foundation manages over 2,000 sqm including Warehouse 5 with 600 sqm exhibition space
- The Art Book Shop Project by Kunstverein Milano opened in summer 2025
- COORDINATE program concludes with exhibition 'From rivers to seas and the poetry of fluidity' (Sep 13 – Dec 9, 2025)
- Exhibition features 10 artists: Francis Alÿs, Hamza Badran, Beatrice Catanzaro, Rajie Cook, Barry Flanagan, Jiří Kovanda, Sara Leghissa, Gustav Metzger, Jean-Luc Moulène, Hannes Zebedin
- Artist residencies planned for 2026 with Centro Pecci di Prato and Regione Toscana funding
- Renovation of 1950s office building for residency housing
- Part of urban regeneration plan for Forte San Pietro area
- Supported by Comune di Livorno, Fremura family, Regione Toscana, Fondazione Livorno
Entities
Artists
- Juan Pablo Macías
- Alessandra Poggianti
- Brice Delarue
- Olivier Vadrot
- Elodie Chabert
- Zélie Canouet
- Francis Alÿs
- Hamza Badran
- Beatrice Catanzaro
- Rajie Cook
- Barry Flanagan
- Jiří Kovanda
- Sara Leghissa
- Gustav Metzger
- Jean-Luc Moulène
- Hannes Zebedin
- Cesare Fremura
- Silvia Viviani
- Angela Rafanelli
- Livia Montagnoli
Institutions
- Magazzini Generali di Livorno
- Carico Massimo
- MG 48°50° latitudine arte contemporanea
- Fondazione Magazzini Generali 48° 50°
- Comune di Livorno
- Fremura
- Kunstverein Milano
- Centro Pecci di Prato
- Regione Toscana
- Fondazione Livorno
- Artribune
Locations
- Livorno
- Italy
- Porto di Livorno
- Forte San Pietro
- Magazzino 6
- Magazzino 5
- Fabbrica del Vapore
- Prato
- Tuscany