M9 Museum in Mestre: Italy's First All-Multimedia Museum Opens

M9, Italy's first fully multimedia museum, has opened in Mestre, aiming to become a unique cultural institution in Europe. Directed by Marco Biscione, the museum focuses on 20th-century Italian history through eight thematic areas spread over two floors, avoiding a chronological path to encourage repeat visits. The museum is part of a larger urban redevelopment project designed to improve quality of life and economic sustainability in Mestre. Designed by Berlin-based firm Sauerbruch Hutton, M9 includes a 1,400-square-meter temporary exhibition space on the third floor, planning at least two temporary shows annually. The museum emphasizes public history, placing the visitor at the center, and includes M9 Children, an educational program developed through a European project. Biscione, former director of MAO in Turin, brings his experience in community-focused museum practices to M9. The museum aims to attract international audiences and collaborate with Venetian institutions like the Venice Biennale, leveraging Mestre's 1.2 million annual overnight visitors. M9 also includes a commercial district to ensure financial sustainability.