Banks and foundations open their art jewels to the public

On the first Saturday of October, the lights of historic buildings and modern and contemporary architecture come on again, which during the rest of the year are the headquarters of banks and banking foundations present throughout the national territory.

Yesterday the new edition of Invito a Palazzo was presented to the press at Palazzo Altieri, headquarters of the Italian Banking Association in Rome. This free event will take place on 6 October from 10 to 19 throughout Italy.

The presentation of the event took place in the presence of the Minister for cultural heritage and activities Alberto Bonisoli, the president of Abi Antonio Patuelli and the vice president of Acri Francesco Profumo and is promoted by the Italian Banking Association under the patronage of the president of Repubblica, the patronage of the Italian Commission of UNESCO and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities

This year the event, now in its seventeenth edition, boasts 107 historic buildings – including the headquarters of the Bank of Italy in Rome also known as Palazzo Koch and located in Via Nazionale 91 in 57 Italian cities. There are seven palaces that will take part in the event for the first time this year and there are two cities that are also opening the doors of their offices for the first time: Carpi and Macerata. In detail, the buildings opened in Lazio are Palazzo Altieri itself, Palazzo Rondinini, headquarters of Banca Mps where ancient marbles and fresco decorations alternate, Palazzo de Carolis, headquarters of Unicredit in the imposing complex of Via del Corso, Palazzo Dosi in Rieti headquarters of the Varrone Foundation. These are just some of the places in the region that host the event.

During the presentation of the event, Antonio Patuelli stated: “We show the historic headquarters of the banks with a view to preserving and protecting our cultural assets and this process is the responsibility of private subjects. With this initiative we intend to preserve and enhance the artistic and architectural assets of every era and make them accessible to all. It is the sign of a banking world that works together with the community, confirming the profound harmony with its territory. The 2018 edition of Invito a Palazzo has been included in the official calendar of the European Year of Cultural Heritage which defines cultural heritage as an element of memory and identity, but also of creativity and the future".

With Invito a Palazzo, tens of thousands of visitors will be able to access the artistic and architectural heritage preserved within the banking foundations, their furnishings and works of art from every era. For the second consecutive year, the venues of the events will organize guided tours which will be illustrated by young high school students. The “Guide for a day” initiative is also a cultural project within the MIUR alternating school-work programme, which aims to disseminate art among school children.

The event was attended by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities Alberto Bonisoli who stated: "Allowing citizens to be able to visit banks' workplaces is a virtuous initiative that I would like to see replicated at various levels, national and regional for example. Above all, it marries the philosophy of safeguarding our heritage to make it usable. Cultural heritage identifies us as a nation and it is fortunate to find and establish relationships between public and private. Occasions like this fit perfectly with the ministry's goals."

Francesco Profumo instead concluded his speech by stating: “Invito a Palazzo is a beautiful project that has the ability to involve the territories and to give them representation. These are historic palaces and contemporary buildings that make up the industrious soul of our cities. The foundations gathered in Acri and the savings banks associated with it are a convinced and enthusiastic partner of the ABI in this initiative, because they are active on a daily basis in their territories precisely to help grow more aware, cohesive and supportive communities. And art and beauty have always been two precious keys to reach everyone's heart”.

The presentation of the Invito a Palazzo event ended with the awarding of the young people of the Pantheon Institute in Rome who were awarded the victory in the context of a competition between art schools which aims to reward the most beautiful project and make it become the graphic sign of the event. This year the selected image was that of a key, a direct and immediate sign of opening and which marries the rapprochement between visitors and art well.