Maria Dolores Picciau appointed new culture councillor for Cagliari

On July 6, Cagliari mayor Paolo Truzzu named Maria Dolores Picciau as the new culture councillor, replacing Paola Piroddi who was removed on May 27 due to internal and external conflicts. Picciau, born in 1966 in Varese province to Sardinian parents, holds a degree in Modern Literature, a specialization in Art History, and multiple master's degrees. She has taught communication for twenty years, curated exhibitions and festivals locally and nationally, and collaborated with newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio. In an interview, she outlined three key objectives: positioning Cagliari as a central player in the international cultural scene, improving the quality and variety of cultural offerings, and making culture more accessible to the general public. She plans to create an open-air museum by installing works by international artists in city green spaces, and to establish a team to transform Cagliari into a major contemporary art hub. Picciau emphasized the need for a public selection process to appoint a director for the Civic Museums, who should have a background in art history and international experience. She also noted the lack of adequate spaces for Sardinian artists and is considering restoring old buildings for that purpose. A new regulation for association funding is being developed to support international projects. Picciau aims to produce original exhibitions without excessive costs, citing the Gastone Biggi show as an example.