Maurizio Cecconi reveals the secrets of organizing blockbuster exhibitions

Villaggio Globale International, founded in 1992 by Maurizio Cecconi, has produced over 350 exhibitions attracting millions of visitors. Cecconi, now strategic consultant, and CEO Nicoletta Buffon lead the company. They have involved more than 2,000 institutions, exhibited 60,000 works, and engaged nearly 3,000 scholars and hundreds of graphic designers and architects. The firm has also produced over 300 catalogues. Their first major project was 'Marco Ricci e il paesaggio veneto del Settecento' in Belluno in 1993. Cecconi defines a 'great' exhibition by visitor understanding, museum visits, local economic impact, and changed perception of a place, not just attendance or media coverage. Key phases include conceptual design and securing funding, followed by logistics like loan requests, transport, insurance, installation, catalogue texts, multimedia, and communication. International relationships are crucial; Villaggio Globale represents the State Hermitage Museum in Italy, boosting its reputation. Cecconi notes rising costs, declining scientific depth, increased spectacle, a shift toward contemporary art, and the transformative role of multimedia, virtual reality, and augmented reality in art perception.