Open letter demands transparency over MuFoCo closure and merger into new National Museum of Photography
Since March 30, 2022, the Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea (MuFoCo) located in Cinisello Balsamo, Italy, has been shuttered due to its integration into the newly established Museo Nazionale di Fotografia, an initiative backed by the Ministry of Culture and Triennale Milano. This sudden closure occurred without any prior announcement or information regarding the museum's future direction. An open letter was addressed to influential officials by notable photographers and cultural figures, such as Olivo Barbieri, Gianni Berengo Gardin, and emerging talents like Irene Fenara, urging transparency about the new museum's objectives and the status of MuFoCo's extensive collection, archives, library, and personnel. Established in 2004, MuFoCo boasts over two million items and a library comprising 20,000 volumes. The article was last updated on May 6, 2022.
Key facts
- MuFoCo closed on March 30, 2022, without prior notice to staff or direction.
- The closure is part of a plan to merge MuFoCo into the new Museo Nazionale di Fotografia by the Ministry of Culture and Triennale Milano.
- An open letter was sent to the Minister of Culture, Fondazione Museo Fotografia Contemporanea, Triennale Milano, and mayors of Milan and Cinisello Balsamo.
- Signatories include Olivo Barbieri, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Mario Cresci, Guido Guidi, Mimmo Jodice, Francesco Jodice, Elisa Medde, Renata Ferri, Irene Fenara, Nicolò Degiorgis, Giorgio Di Noto, Christian Fogarolli, and The Cool Couple.
- MuFoCo holds over two million items: prints, slides, videos, installations by over 1,000 artists.
- The museum's library contains 20,000 volumes, monographs, and catalogs.
- Special collections focus on Gabriele Basilico and Grazia Neri.
- The article was updated on May 6, 2022.
Entities
Artists
- Olivo Barbieri
- Gianni Berengo Gardin
- Mario Cresci
- Guido Guidi
- Mimmo Jodice
- Francesco Jodice
- Irene Fenara
- Nicolò Degiorgis
- Giorgio Di Noto
- Christian Fogarolli
- The Cool Couple
- Gabriele Basilico
- Grazia Neri
Institutions
- Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea (MuFoCo)
- Museo Nazionale di Fotografia
- Ministero della Cultura
- Triennale Milano
- Fondazione Museo Fotografia Contemporanea
- Foam
- RCS
- Artribune
Locations
- Cinisello Balsamo
- Milan
- Italy
- Villa Ghirlanda