Annual report 2004 - Compagnia di San Paolo

Programmes
Turin’s Museum Programme
Turin’s Museum Programme
Programmes play a central role in the Compagnia’s activity framework. The Compagnia’s
guidelines for establishing procedures and criteria to pursue its institutional objectives, define
programmes as a “coordinated and integrated approach aimed at one or more objectives consistent
with the Compagnia aims, developing a cross-sector approach when required. Lasting several
years, these programmes include integrating directly managed initiatives (including promoting or
participating in instrumental organisations, legal persons or consortia, etc), with support to projects
and institutional support to external organisations’ activities”.
This provided the theoretical background for launching the Programme to develop a Museum District
in Turin’s city centre. Established at the end of 2000, the Programme is the Compagnia’s chief tool in
fostering the process of urban, cultural, economic and social transformation that the city of Turin set
out years ago in order to regain its status as arts capital. In this context, the notion of “museum
district” embraces the idea of a coordinated set of initiatives and relevant agreement between
everyone involved in the transformation process of the city area identified as “zona di comando” (the
District of Savoy Government). It is a historic and artistic site deserving to be incorporated into a
whole and adequately enhanced museum system.
The start up phase was centred around setting up a “museums development plan”, which aimed at
both determining criteria and priorities, as well as establishing a framework of shared values and
commitments both locally and nationally.
The programme is organised into six main areas, including some well defined specific
characteristics. It aims at emphasising each monument’s historic importance through real recovery
action as well as stressing their outstanding features and district-relevant character. Management
tools and common standards for museums will be used capable of keeping up with innovation and
meeting the needs voiced by today’s society.
The six areas are respectively:
- the area of the Roman Gates (Porte Palatine), the Museo di Antichità and archaeological park with
itineraries of the Roman past;
- Palazzo Reale (the Royal Palace) and the Royal Gardens, Palazzo Chiablese and “Manica Nuova”
(the new wing), the future home of the Galleria Sabauda (Savoy Art Gallery);
- Cavallerizza Reale (the Royal Riding School): new opportunities for exposition areas, which could
be integrated with the Royal Palace;
- The via Po and piazza Vittorio Veneto area, in collaboration with the National Cinema Museum pole;
- Palazzo dell’Accademia delle Scienze with the atmospheres and culture of Ancient Egypt- the
Egyptian Museum being hosted in the Palace;
- Palazzo Carignano with itineraries of the Italian Risorgimento and Guarini’s baroque architecture.
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Taking into consideration the complexity and considerable financial commitment entailed by the
Programme between 2000-2004, the Compagnia has set aside over 46 million euros to create an
endowment fund, using over 86% of resources currently allocated for specific projects.
During the year, in addition to supporting the rehabilitation and enhancement of Turin’s prestigious
Accademia delle Scienze historic premises, major efforts have also been put into instituting the
Fondazione Museo delle Antichità Egizie (Egyptian Museum Foundation). It was therefore able to