Roberto Albergoni resigns as director of Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025
Roberto Albergoni has stepped down as the general director of Fondazione Agrigento 2025, exacerbating the crisis surrounding Agrigento's designation as the Italian Capital of Culture. Albergoni, who previously led Manifesta 12 in Palermo, had remained quiet since the press conference on January 14 and the inaugural event on January 18. His resignation follows the exit of president Giacomo Minio in February for undisclosed political reasons. Albergoni postponed his decision, which he reached at the end of 2024, to facilitate essential event planning and budget approvals. The city is currently grappling with disorganization, including postponed exhibitions, the cancellation of the Efebo d'Oro film festival, and delays to the Sphairos philosophy festival. The Fondazione is also without a press office and headquarters, facing ongoing mismanagement. An urgent search for a new leader is underway amid rising political tensions.
Key facts
- Roberto Albergoni resigned as general director of Fondazione Agrigento 2025.
- Albergoni had been silent since the January 14 press conference and January 18 inaugural event.
- President Giacomo Minio resigned in February for political reasons.
- Maria Teresa Cucinotta was appointed as the new president.
- Albergoni's decision to resign was made at the end of 2024 but delayed.
- The 2025 budget and cultural projects were approved before his resignation.
- A major exhibition on Agrigento and the Chiaramonte family is delayed.
- The Efebo d'Oro film festival's first date was canceled.
- The Sphairos philosophy festival, featuring Vito Mancuso, Massimo Cacciari, Marcello Veneziani, and Alfonso Maurizio Iacono, was postponed.
- The Fondazione lacks a press office and a physical headquarters at Palazzo Tommasi.
- The Fondazione's board has eight members: five appointed by the mayor, two by other partners, one by the regional president.
- Albergoni previously directed Manifesta 12 in Palermo and is working on Gibellina Capital of Contemporary Art 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Roberto Albergoni
- Giacomo Minio
- Maria Teresa Cucinotta
- Vito Mancuso
- Massimo Cacciari
- Marcello Veneziani
- Alfonso Maurizio Iacono
- Giovanni Taglialavoro
- Helga Marsala
Institutions
- Fondazione Agrigento 2025
- Comune di Agrigento
- Comune di Lampedusa e Linosa
- Empedocle Consorzio Universitario Agrigento
- Manifesta
- Gibellina Capitale dell'Arte contemporanea 2026
- Efebo d'Oro
- Sphairos
- Palazzo Tommasi
- Teatro Garibaldi
- Artribune
- Repubblica
Locations
- Agrigento
- Italy
- Palermo
- Gibellina
- Lampedusa
- Linosa