Rome's National Central Library Revives Art Exhibitions

The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma (BNCR) is undergoing a cultural revival under new director Andrea De Pasquale, who aims to restore the 18th-century tradition of museum-like displays within public libraries. The library, designed by architects Massimo Castellazzi, Tullio Dell'Anese, and Annibale Vitellozzi in international style and opened in 1975, houses works by Afro, Franco Cannilla, Pietro Consagra, Giuseppe Capogrossi, and Luigi Venturini. A new exhibition space features "La grande Biblioteca d'Italia. Bibliotecari, architetti e artisti all'opera: 1975-2015," celebrating the artists involved in the library's original project with drawings and sketches. Another permanent exhibition, "Spazi900," includes a reconstruction of Elsa Morante's study with paintings by Bill Morrow, Leonor Fini, and Carlo Levi, and a room dedicated to Pierpaolo Pasolini. A contemporary art gallery hosts shows like "La lima che sottile incide," featuring woodcut artists Gianni Verna and Gianfranco Schialvino. To mark the 40th anniversary of the BNCR's inauguration, a public competition was launched to acquire a new artwork, reinforcing the library's commitment to integrating art and text.