Museo Madre launches Premio Meridiana for curators under 45

The Museo Madre in Naples has announced the first edition of the Premio Meridiana, an open call for curators under 45 aimed at promoting emerging artists from southern Italy. The theme, “Ogni cosa è tutte le cose” (Every thing is all things), is inspired by Elio Vittorini's novel Conversazione in Sicilia. Curators must propose original projects featuring three artists: two under 35 and one of any age, all connected to southern Italy or Naples. The deadline is June 30, 2025. The winning project will be allocated five consecutive rooms on the second or third floor of the museum, spaces usually reserved for historical or internationally known artists. The initiative is promoted by the Fondazione Donnaregina per le arti contemporanee and supported by the Amici del Madre association. Eva Fabbris, director of Museo Madre, stated that projects will be evaluated on originality, attention to research, and the ability to highlight artists' poetics rather than overwhelm them with curatorial concepts. Feasibility and sustainability will also be considered. Angela Tecce, president of Fondazione Donnaregina, explained that the prize aims to give southern Italian artists national and international visibility through curatorial and financial support. Renato Magaldi, president of Amici del Madre, emphasized the role of patronage in supporting the museum and the territory.