MAXXI's Public Engagement: Inclusive Education Strategies

Sofia Bilotta, head of the Public Engagement Department at MAXXI in Rome, discusses the museum's educational initiatives following the success of the Maria Lai exhibition. The exhibition "Maria Lai. Tenendo per mano il sole" provided an opportunity to expand on experimentation begun in 2017 with "I Luoghi dell’arte a portata di mano," four decks of cards published by Lai in 2002. These cards serve both as artworks and educational tools. Notable projects include tactile visits organized with the Museum Association, featuring "Ascoltare la materia"—a tactile path using Lai's symbolic categories—and "Omaggio a Maria Lai. Libri tattili e opere in Braille," a collaboration with the National Federation of Institutions for the Blind and its Tactile Books Office directed by Pietro Vecchiarelli. The department adopts a participatory and inclusive methodology, targeting marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, migrants, patients in care facilities, caregivers, and vulnerable children and women. Bilotta emphasizes using mobile furniture to bring activities directly into exhibition galleries. Upcoming projects include a modeling workshop with blind sculptor Rosella Frittelli on Margherita Moscardini's work, a multimedia architectural tour designed with deaf and blind individuals, a soundscape mapping of the museum led by Antoni Abbad shared on Blind Wiki, and intercultural mediation of the permanent collection. The interview was conducted by Annalisa Trasatti for Artribune.