The Italian capital of contemporary art is born, Sangiuliano presents the announcement
The public notice has been presented for the cities that want to participate: the first edition of the Italian Capital of Contemporary Art scheduled for 2026
After the Italian capital of culture and that of the book the Ministry of Culture launches the Italian Capital of Contemporary Art, a new recognition designed to encourage and support cities that know how and want to enhance contemporary art experiences through new places dedicated to its fruition or with initiatives such as exhibitions, festivals or reviews. We start with 2026 and the first Italian city to be able to define itself as the Italian capital of contemporary art will be chosen thanks to a public notice, presented this morning at Mic.
The characteristics of the announcement were made known by the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, the general director of Contemporary Creativity of the MiC, Angelo Piero Cappello and the undersecretary of Culture, Lucia Borgonzoni. Among the objectives of the public notice stand out, among others, the possibility of creating or redeveloping areas and spaces to be used for the enjoyment of contemporary art, the valorisation of the territory in sector of creativity and young talents, the possibility of creating networks between museums, public institutions and private spaces, the promotion of entrepreneurship in the visual, performative and creative sectors.
Cities or groups of municipalities that wish to apply will be able to do so by 30 June 2024. One million is the funding foreseen for the winning city, resources that will have to be used to carry out the activities planned in the dossier.
THE REACTIONS
“This – commented Sangiuliano– is an initiative for which I have coined a slogan: ‘we must create the past of the future‘, because in 50 years we will will have to remember what has been done now, what has been created in 2025, especially by young people. We must project ourselves into the future. Every year an Italian city will become the Capital of Contemporary Art and I have already read that many want to apply above all, small and medium-sized cities are candidates, which have many values that can be expressed and environments that need to be redeveloped, because becoming Capitals of contemporary art, as well as of culture or books, means turning the spotlight on city realities for an entire year and correlating a series of events, including musical ones or dedicated to dance, and make a speech on contemporary expressiveness”.
“There are initiatives made by my predecessors, which I have carried forward with conviction, such as the Italian Capital of Culture and the Capital of Books – concluded Sangiuliano – then we also tried to create something of our own in order to be able impress our vision. It will take years before this initiative will consolidate but I am convinced that it will be successful”.
“Contemporary art, together with photography – Borgonzoni also added – has remained in the imagination of many the younger sister of art with Capital AContemporary art must be grown and helped to express itself and nourish itself because it will create the roots of our future the right role for contemporary art, also giving legs to the young artists of today”.
