Marco Maria Cerbo on the Future of Italian Cultural Institutes Worldwide

Marco Maria Cerbo, head of the coordination unit for Italian Cultural Institutes under the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, discusses the network's expansion and strategy. With a 25-year diplomatic career spanning Addis Ababa (where he oversaw the return of the Axum Obelisk), Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Paris, Cerbo now leads 86 institutes globally. Recent openings include Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Miami (USA), with upcoming institutes in Jordan and Thailand. He emphasizes the enduring importance of physical cultural diplomacy over virtual alternatives, citing the need for personal relationships. The network collaborates with EUNIC and seeks synergies with Italian institutions like Triennale Milano and Quadriennale di Roma. For 2024, priorities include celebrating the 750th anniversary of Marco Polo's birth and the centenary of Giacomo Puccini's death. The Farnesina Collection, currently touring Mexico for the 150th anniversary of bilateral relations, will acquire new works including a Cellotex by Alberto Burri and a piece by Silvia Giambrone addressing gender violence. Cerbo defends the institute's logo, inspired by Marinetti's first artist's book, and stresses the need for flexible, resource-attracting institutes.