Annual report 2004 - Compagnia di San Paolo

Fondazione per l’Arte
www.fondazionearte.it
2004 was the first year of the Fondazione per l’Arte (Foundation for Art) activity. The
Foundation launched programmes on “safeguarding, enrichment and enhancement of artistic
heritage” (article 2 of the Foundation’s Articles of Association) working closely with the Compagnia
and especially the Art Sector. The foundation focused on training and research projects in history,
art and restoration subjects, as well as implementing new models for managing and enhancing
museums and cultural heritage, in its launch of numerous initiatives.
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Restoration and Enhancement
Restauration is at the heart of the Foundation for Art’s activity. The Foundation played an active role
in establishing the Centre for the Conservation and Restoring of Cultural Heritage “la Venaria reale”,
to be set up by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Piedmont Regional Authorities,
Turin University and CRT Foundation.
The Centre will be established thanks to its founders’ significant contribution; besides providing its
asset fund, they will endow the Foundation with all necessary means to allow it to refurbish its
headquarters and carry out its activities. In particular, the antique Alfieri Stables in the Royal Palace
of Venaria will host a workshop for cultural heritage conservation, with monitoring, prevention,
maintenance and restoration related tasks. There will be laboratories for analysis, research and
diagnostics, a school for advanced training and studies awarding a “diploma di laurea” (university
degree) to restorers and a centre for recording, collecting, organising and circulating data on the
Foundation’s work. The Centre’s start up is planned for Spring 2005, with the opening of scientific
and specialised cutting-edge technology laboratories, whereas university courses will begin in the
2005-2006 academic year.
The Foundation for Art promoted a wide ranging preparatory phase for this launch, assigning
specific studies to restoration experts and appointing a permanent working group. Besides this
project, the Foundation has taken on another noteworthy commitment to plan and realise a Centro
di ricerca e documentazione sul Barocco (Centre for Research and Documentation on Baroque).
The plan includes the creation of a specialised library, comprising not only historical and recent
documents, but also the so called “grey” bibliography of rare or difficult-to-find sources. The plan
also includes a photographic and digital archive of historic sources and restoration works-related
documentation.
The Centro di ricerca e documentazione sul Barocco will carry out its activities by putting its
acquired heritage on the Internet, networking with similar Centres and assigning research projects
and allocating grants. The Foundation awarded a grant to Turin’s San Francesco da Paola parish
church, starting preliminary works to investigate and assess possible restoration and recovery
operations for both the church as well as the sacristy’s internal decor.
This project aims at laying down a blueprint for monuments and buildings restoration and recovery
that could later be applied to other projects. In 2004 the Foundation also reaffirmed its commitment
to the “Grande Brera” project in Milan, initially launched by the Fondazione San Paolo per la Cultura,
la Scienza e l’Arte (the San Paolo Foundation for Culture, Science and Art) and concentrating on
consolidation works on the Citterio Palace under the direction of a Foundation appointed
professional.