MORE MUSEUM: Italian museum directors convene online to chart post-pandemic future
In January 2021, a virtual gathering took place for 40 directors and representatives from Italian museums during the MORE MUSEUM conference, facilitated by the culture department of Florence alongside Muse and Museo Novecento. The attendees evaluated the effects of museum closures and exchanged strategies for reopening. Dario Franceschini, Italy's Minister of Culture, introduced the digital platform ItsArt and suggested that museums in yellow-zone areas could reopen on weekdays. Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, highlighted the importance of culture in the recovery process. Discussions focused on emerging professional roles, digital transformation, and community engagement. Notable participants included Sylvain Bellenger, Christian Greco, Giovanna Melandri, Eike Schmidt, and Barbara Jatta, emphasizing the need for staff renewal and sustainable practices.
Key facts
- MORE MUSEUM conference held online in January 2021
- 40 directors and representatives of Italian museums participated
- Organized by Florence's culture department, Muse, and Museo Novecento
- Minister Dario Franceschini announced ItsArt digital platform and proposed weekday reopening in yellow zones
- Florence mayor Dario Nardella opened the conference
- Sylvain Bellenger criticized lack of unified European cultural heritage policy
- Christian Greco advocated for 'digital humanism'
- Giovanna Melandri reported 15 million views from artist-produced digital content
- Eike Schmidt highlighted outreach to smaller museums like Anghiari
- Paolo Giulierini noted ancient technology as precedent for digital integration
- Barbara Jatta reported 80% Italian visitors at Vatican Museums in summer 2020
- Gabriel Zuchtriegel proposed membership model for Paestum Archaeological Park
- Stefano Boeri noted acceleration of experimentation during pandemic
- Lorenzo Giusti (GAMeC) emphasized museums' role in social justice
- Laura Valente (Museo Madre) reported 700% savings from community involvement in art production
- Andrea Bruciati (Villa Adriana) implemented local community discounts
- Tiziana Maffei (Reggia di Caserta) stressed sustainability and ethical commitment
- Gabriella Belli (Fondazione Musei Civici Venezia) focused on reconquering local audience
- Stefano Baia Curioni (Palazzo Te) launched a super card for 1 euro access
- Evelina De Castro (Palazzo Abatellis) emphasized emotional experience of art
- Serena Bertolucci (Palazzo Ducale Genova) called for sharing spaces with the city
- Alfonsina Russo (Parco Archeologico del Colosseo) launched membership program
- Lorenzo Balbi (MAMbo) transformed museum into artist studios hub
- Francesca Cappelletti (Galleria Borghese) compiled a catalog of paintings during closure
- Karole Vail (Peggy Guggenheim Collection) halved exhibition program, invested in digital
Entities
Artists
- Sylvain Bellenger
- Christian Greco
- Giovanna Melandri
- Eike Schmidt
- Barbara Jatta
- Stefano Boeri
- Paolo Giulierini
- Gabriel Zuchtriegel
- Lorenzo Giusti
- Laura Valente
- Andrea Bruciati
- Tiziana Maffei
- Gabriella Belli
- Stefano Baia Curioni
- Evelina De Castro
- Serena Bertolucci
- Alfonsina Russo
- Lorenzo Balbi
- Francesca Cappelletti
- Karole P. B. Vail
- Dario Franceschini
- Dario Nardella
- Tommaso Sacchi
- Filippo Del Corno
- Francesca Leon
- Anna Maria Montaldo
- Sergio Risaliti
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Giovanni Iovane
- Aurelie Filippetti
- Valdo Spini
- Giulia Ronchi
- Valentina Muzi
Institutions
- Muse
- Museo Novecento
- Comune di Firenze
- Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e il Turismo
- ItsArt
- Gallerie degli Uffizi
- Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
- Museo Egizio di Torino
- MAXXI
- Museo del Novecento Milano
- Musei Vaticani
- Triennale di Milano
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
- Museo Galileo Galilei
- Parco Archeologico di Paestum
- GAMeC
- Fondazione Donnaregina per le Arti Contemporanee
- Museo Madre
- Villa Adriana
- Villa d'Este
- Reggia di Caserta
- Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia
- Fondazione Palazzo Te di Mantova
- Palazzo Abatellis di Palermo
- Palazzo Ducale di Genova
- Parco Archeologico del Colosseo
- MAMbo
- Galleria Borghese
- Collezione Peggy Guggenheim
- ICOM
- British Museum
- Prado
- Accademia Belle Arti di Brera
- Villa Finaly – Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
- Associazione delle Istituzioni di Cultura Italiane
- Unesco
- MiBACT
- Artribune
Locations
- Firenze
- Italia
- Napoli
- Torino
- Milano
- Roma
- Venezia
- Mantova
- Palermo
- Genova
- Bologna
- Bergamo
- Tivoli
- Caserta
- Paestum
- Anghiari
- Madrid
- Parigi