Mario Nanni Scholé: New Cultural Center Dedicated to Light in Bologna

Mario Nanni, an artist, designer, and poet born in Lugo di Romagna in 1955, has established Mario Nanni Scholé, a new cultural and educational center in Bologna. The project comprises two venues: the Museo Virgola in Bologna, which already houses Nanni's works, and the archive 'La luce che non conosci' in Bentivoglio, set to open in January 2026. The archive, spanning over 5,000 square meters across two buildings on five levels, features a mobile dome to capture sunlight throughout the day, illuminating exhibition, workshop, educational, and theater spaces. Nanni, who has collaborated with architects Kengo Kuma, David Chipperfield, and Peter Zumthor, is personally overseeing the architectural and engineering design. Ahead of the opening, a series of events starting in summer 2025 will explore light in cinema and architecture, in collaboration with Cinema Modernissimo in Bologna. Curator Beatrice Caprioli stated that the project aims to foster collaborations with local and international institutions, universities, and research centers, building on Nanni's network of relationships with museums, architects, and artists.