Like all places of art and culture, company museums and archives are also closed to the public, in compliance with the ongoing COVID-19 emergency containment provisions. But culture does not go into quarantine and does not stop: thus the members of Museimpresa - the Italian Association of Corporate Archives and Museums - offer virtual tours of their corporate museums and digital archives, an immersive experience as well as exhibition spaces also in the history of these entrepreneurial realities and in that of our country.
"Museimpresa joins the chorus of all those who keep this country alive with theatres, music and cultural initiatives. In this difficult moment of crisis, the contribution of culture is essential and indispensable, to continue being together even if physically distant "- declares Antonio Calabro, President of Museimpresa - “The archives and Italian business museums contain them extraordinary stories of women and men who have invented, experimented, produced, built wealth, work and social relationships. You will find these stories on the Museimpresa network and on the sites of our nearly 100 members. This country has known dramatic seasons in its history, we have always gotten back up because among the elements of our strength there is creativity, an extraordinary solidarity and the ability to produce a broad, popular culture, strongly linked to our territories”.
Here is a selection of initiatives promoted by some of the numerous Museimpresa associates, who have created, in addition to virtual tours and archives accessible online, also video tours on social media and on their YouTube channel. More reports are arriving in the coming days, in fact there are many Museimpresa associates at work to produce new digital content.
ABOCA MUSEUM
The virtual tour of Aboca Museum allows you to immerse yourself in a fascinating journey into the past, with the story of the history of herbs over the centuries. An evocative journey through science, art, history and popular knowledge. A journey to discover the ancient tradition of medicinal plants through the sources of the past.
BANK OF NAPLES HISTORICAL ARCHIVE MUSEUM
Over 100 documents and the multimedia path of theHistorical Archive of the Banco di Napolican be viewed online at Google Arts & Culture by people around the world. Users can admire the huge folders of the Archive, the paper kebabs and virtually walk through the corridors of the Museum. A 450-year-long treasure trove of memories concerning economic, artistic and social aspects told to the public in a continuous cross-reference between past and present.
BARILLA HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
A portal-museum that preserves the evidence of 141 years of life of the Parma company. Thousands of photographs, films, promotional items, packaging, publications and bibliographic works bear witness to the journey of Barilla Group, icon of Made in Italy food, and the changes in Italian society. Over 35.000 cataloged documents, 150 posters, 2.700 advertising films, thousands of images of the company from 1913 to today.
MENABREA BEER MUSEUM
the Museum dedicated to the 170-year history of beer Menabrea It offers a virtual tour which shows the original machinery of 1846, the workshop tools, the tools of the ancient coopers, the bottles, the mugs, the illustrations, the glossy photographs of the time, but also the commercial books and advertising images. The video shows the itinerary of the museum, evidence of vital relevance.
PERONI BEER MUSEUM
A virtual walk through the great history of Birra Peroni. Three interpretations with high quality images, information panels, objects, finds and documents from the historical archive, between industrial growth, the history of products and brand communication, without forgetting the myth of the "Bionde Peroni".
DUCATI MUSEUM
History and future, challenges and successes, vision and determination: the Ducati Museum offers a virtual journey into the myth that traces the 90 years of the company, famous throughout the world for its style, performance and pursuit of perfection.
ENI HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
The archival heritage of ENI tells the story of the Italian oil industry from its origins, in the Emilian Apennines, to the conquests of the most remote places on earth, with documents, images and testimonials from the protagonists.
FAIR MILAN FOUNDATION HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
18.000 photographs, 100 posters, 200 magazines and catalogues, all available online: theHistorical Archive of the Fiera Milano Foundation tells the story of the Milanese exhibition center with the documents produced by the Ente Fiera since 1920.
FS ITALIANE FOUNDATION
A virtual tour of the pavilions of the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa, which preserve the history of the Italian railways. A fascinating journey through time among the locomotives and trains that have united Italy from 1839 to the present day, in 180 years of history of the Italian railways.
KARTELL MUSEUM
Il Kartell Museum he is the custodian and narrator of one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of Italian design. A permanent exhibition, special projects, installations fit into the frame of an exciting curatorial and exhibition project, also visible through a dedicated App and a virtual tour.
MANSUTTI FOUNDATION
With over 6.000 manuscripts, volumes and books the Mansutti Foundation tell the story of insurance. It is possible to visit the Foundation's assets and consult the Library thanks to a virtual tour and online documents.
MARTINI'S HOUSE
Martini, an avant-garde story for almost 150 years. A virtual tour to discover Casa Martini – Martini&Rossi, between the Museum of the History of Enology and the Mondo Martini Gallery. Objects, images, documents that tell the story of people, passions and projects that have marked the affirmation of the Martini brand in the world.
MUMAC – COFFEE MACHINE MUSEUM of the Cimbali Group
An online exhibition promoted by Mumac – Coffee Machine Museum to tell the story of the "Cimbalino" through images and a virtual tour of the museum exhibition on Google Maps Street View. MUMAC tells not only the evolution of over 100 years of company history but, above all, the evolution of technology and design of an entire Made in Italy sector, exhibiting machines of all brands.
PIRELLI FOUNDATION
Over 3,5 km of documents including photographs, sketches and advertising materials kept in the spaces of Pirelli Foundation testify to the story of a company that has never stopped talking about its corporate culture. Available online thanks to the historical archive and digital libraries, where you can request, even remotely, material for loans, exhibitions and publications.
ITALIAN TOURING CLUB HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
You travel through images, stories, faces and adventures of 125 years of history Touring Club Italiano and the customs of our nation. A real exploration of the historical archive through 10.400 digitized images, thematic itineraries and a digital library.
NATIONAL CORPORATE CINEMA ARCHIVE
The National Corporate Cinema Archive of Ivrea in collaboration with the General Directorate for Archives of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and with the contribution of the Compagnia di San Paolo has created a channel YouTube on corporate cinema. In addition to proposing a selection of films kept in Ivrea (among others AEM, Borsalino, Breda, Birra Peroni, Edison, Ferrovie dello Stato, Fiat, Olivetti, Martini & Rossi, Marzotto, Necchi, Venchi and Rancilio) it also presents productions made by other company archives such as Ansaldo, Barilla, ENI, Piaggio, Pirelli and Same.
