Rubbettino Editore Opens Museum of Printing in Calabria

On June 14, 2024, Italian publisher Rubbettino inaugurated its corporate museum in Soveria Mannelli, Calabria, tracing the history of printing from movable type to digital. The museum is part of the broader CARTA project, launched in 2020 on the 20th anniversary of founder Rosario Rubbettino's death. The project also includes a Contemporary Art Park spanning 12,500 square meters, inaugurated in September 2022 for the company's 50th anniversary. The park hosts international artists in residence and features permanent works by Stefan Alber, Rachele Maistrello, Elisa Strinna, and Giulio Saverio Rossi, curated by Alessandro Fonte and Shawnette Poe. The museum, located inside the industrial plant, displays linotype machines, large 20th-century printing presses, early desktop publishing systems, documents, and interactive exhibits. It covers the history of the book, printing techniques, typography, paper, and materials. A FabLab serves as a creative laboratory for design and digital craftsmanship. The museum also hosts exhibitions, conferences, and seminars on visual culture and typography. Rubbettino is the latest addition to the SudHeritage network, which unites Calabrian corporate museums including Amarelli, Callipo, GIAS, Librandi, and Lanificio Leo. The network aims to strengthen existing museums, foster new ones, and promote the equation between business and culture.