Villa Panza director on Giuseppe Panza's legacy and future plans

Anna Bernardini, director of Villa e Collezione Panza in Varese, discusses the history and future of the villa, donated to FAI in 1996 by Giuseppe and Giovanna Panza. The villa houses Giuseppe Panza's collection of about 2,500 works, amassed from 1955 to 2010. Since opening to the public in 2000, the FAI has managed the site. Bernardini, director since 2007, has focused on repositioning the villa internationally through temporary exhibitions and site-specific acquisitions. Notable shows include Bill Viola (2012), Robert Wilson (2016), and Barry X Ball (2018). The villa's programming emphasizes dialogue between the permanent collection and contemporary artists. Visitor numbers grew from 20,000 in 2007 to over 60,000 in 2017. Funding comes from partners like JTI since 2012, plus private and public contributors. The staff is lean, with roles in maintenance, conservation, communication, and exhibition coordination. Future plans include celebrating the tenth anniversary of Giuseppe Panza's death in 2020 with new installations, conferences, and exhibitions.