Santa Maria della Scala director Daniele Pittèri departs, museum faces uncertain future

On February 1, 2019, Daniele Pittèri will step down as the director of the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex in Siena after failing to reach a contract renewal agreement with Mayor Luigi De Mossi. Following his departure, the museum will be without a director starting February 2, as the municipality works on a delayed recruitment process. Pittèri, who was appointed by former Mayor Bruno Valentini, successfully raised annual visitor numbers from fewer than 70,000 in 2015 to 203,000 in 2018 and facilitated structural improvements. Significant exhibitions included a retrospective of Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The museum's future legal framework is under discussion, with options for a public-private foundation or management under a new "Museum and Culture Hub." De Mossi aims to transform the museum into an event space, beginning with a conference on agri-food products in February.