Palermo's Cantieri Culturali Renamed to Cantieri Culturali Ducrot, Sparking Controversy
Palermo's city administration has officially changed the name of Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa to Cantieri Culturali Ducrot, in tribute to Vittorio Ducrot, the founder of the Officine Ducrot furniture factory. This move has sparked public discontent due to Ducrot's association with fascism, having served as a leader of the Fascist syndical federation in the late 1920s and as a deputy for the National Fascist Party from 1929 to 1934. Originally developed by Carlo Golia in the 1890s, the site was known for producing luxury furniture and later aircraft during WWI. Revitalized in 1995 by Mayor Leoluca Orlando, it now accommodates various cultural institutions. Culture Councillor Giampiero Cannella has defended the renaming, but many locals continue to refer to it as Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa.
Key facts
- Palermo's Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa renamed to Cantieri Culturali Ducrot.
- New name honors Vittorio Ducrot, founder of Officine Ducrot furniture factory.
- Ducrot was a fascist militant, head of the Fascist syndical federation of Palermo industrialists, and a deputy from 1929 to 1934.
- The site originated in the 1890s with Carlo Golia, later run by Ducrot from 1902.
- During WWI, the factory produced seaplanes and employed over 2,000 workers.
- The area was abandoned after WWII and revitalized as a cultural hub in 1995 under Mayor Leoluca Orlando.
- Current tenants include ZACentrale (Fondazione Merz), Haus der Kunst, Accademia di Belle Arti, Goethe Institute, Institut Français, Centro Internazionale di Fotografia Letizia Battaglia, Spazio Franco, Cinema De Seta, Istituto Gramsci, Legambiente Sicilia, Cre.Zi. Plus, and Averna Spazio Open.
- Public controversy over honoring a fascist and changing a well-known name.
Entities
Artists
- Vittorio Ducrot
- Carlo Golia
- Maria Roche
- Ernesto Basile
- Ettore De Maria Bergler
- Leoluca Orlando
- Giampiero Cannella
Institutions
- Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa
- Cantieri Culturali Ducrot
- Officine Ducrot
- ZACentrale
- Fondazione Merz
- Haus der Kunst
- Accademia di Belle Arti
- Goethe Institute
- Institut Français
- Centro Internazionale di Fotografia Letizia Battaglia
- Spazio Franco
- Cinema De Seta
- Istituto Gramsci
- Legambiente Sicilia
- Cre.Zi. Plus
- Averna Spazio Open
- Partito Nazionale Fascista
- Camera del Regno
- Comune di Palermo
- Artribune
Locations
- Palermo
- Italy
- Zisa
- Sicily