Straordinarie exhibition comes to Milan: 110 shots to tell the story of Italian women

After its success at MAXXI in Rome, the exhibition Straordinarie arrives in Milan at the Fabbrica del Vapore from Feb. 14 to March 17. The project promoted by Terre des Hommes and curated by Renata Ferri with photographs by Ilaria Magliocchetti Lombi, brings together 110 portraits and voices of Italian women from multiple spheres of contemporary society. Professionals whose paths testify to many different ways of asserting themselves and achieving their ambitions beyond prejudice and discrimination.

The exhibition, with the support of Deloitte and the sponsorship of the Deloitte Foundation, is part of Terre des Hommes’ #indefense campaign, active since 2012 to promote the rights of girls and young women in Italy and around the world. Through awareness-raising initiatives such as Extraordinarie and advocacy campaigns, it works to build a culture of respect, countering gender prejudice and discrimination. During the exhibition at the Cathedral, there will be meetings dedicated to schools and citizenship, talks with the protagonists, screenings and artistic performances to deepen the themes covered by the exhibition.Straordinarie is the result of a collaboration with the Fabbrica del Vapore and is part of the initiative of the City of Milan Milan City of Women, Girls and Children, which offers the community a year full of cultural events focused on gender issues. This event has been included in the calendar of the Cultural Olympiad, a multidisciplinary, diverse, and widespread program promoted by the Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation. This program aims to spread Olympic and Paralympic Values through culture, heritage, and sport in the run-up to the upcoming Winter Games. In addition, other numerous partners who stand alongside Terre des Hommes for the Rights of Girls and Girls support the initiative, including: Rai for ESG Sustainability, Canon, Gramma, Cultural partner, Cotril, which took care of the hair styling of the protagonists, Neutralia, technical partners, Corriere della sera, iO Donna, La27esimaOra, Urban Vision media partner. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog that will be available during the exhibition and on Silvana Editoriale ’s website (www.silvanaeditoriale.it) and was produced thanks to Fondazione Bracco.

“When we talk about gender issues, culture can and must play a fundamental role in inspiring change in our society. It is with this in mind that the City of Milan has promoted the ”Milan City of Women“ schedule, which throughout 2024 will offer appointments, talks and exhibitions related to the theme, and which opens today with the exhibition Straordinarie. A project aimed especially at girls and boys, to show them the infinite ways women have to express themselves and fulfill themselves. An invitation to get to know the story of these extraordinary women and grow up free and unencumbered to realize their dreams,” says Tommaso Sacchi, City of Milan Councillor for Culture.

“For more than 12 years, Terre des Hommes Italy’s defenseless campaign has denounced the gender inequality that traps girls and young women in a cycle of discrimination, stereotypes, poverty and violence. In the diversity and strength of the women who make up Extraordinary, we hope that every little girl or girl will be able to glimpse a reflection of her own potential, chasing her dreams and struggling to overcome these disparities. If by visiting the exhibition, even one little girl can feel freer to choose about her future, we will have achieved our goal. And if we have succeeded in involving boys in this story, too, perhaps we can truly say that we have planted the seeds of a more open, inclusive and just country,” says Paolo Ferrara, Director General of Terre des Hommes Italy. “We are honored to have built with the City of Milan a great palimpsest that starts with Straordinarie and will continue in the coming months making the city of Milan a unique example for cultural offerings with a series of innovative projects that will tell the issue of gender from multiple points of view, including through other exhibitions, such as Appunti G, which will close the palimpsest next fall.”

“Extraordinary is a challenge to gender stereotypes that transforms the paradigm of the woman-victim into a cultural and political role model. Protagonists of our present, they have accepted the invitation to the staging of the photographic portrait to make this project a unique body of faces and voices, a weaving of memories, confidences and dedications.” says Renata Ferri.

“The Straordinarie exhibition, as well as all the events and opportunities for debate related to it that will take place in Fabbrica del Vapore throughout 2024, speak of the will of the City of Milan to build a city fit for women and men, inclusive and respectful, collaborating with the many associations and foundations that care about the cultural, social, economic and political life of the city. ”’Milan City of Women’ is not a slogan but the daily will to build a safer and more welcoming city for women and men, renewing the commitment so that everyone and everyone has equal opportunities in professions as well as in their life aspirations," announced Elena Lattuada, the Mayor’s Delegate for Gender Equality.

“Deloitte and Fondazione Deloitte wholeheartedly support ”Extraordinarie,“ a cultural initiative of the highest caliber capable of powerfully conveying the importance of women’s contribution in all professional fields and recognizing their value,” explained Guido Borsani, President of Fondazione Deloitte and Partner of Deloitte. “With this project, Fondazione Deloitte’s commitment to supporting inclusive role models, capable of inspiring new generations and stimulating girls and boys to go beyond gender stereotypes, continues.”

“As an entrepreneur, I have always believed in women’s skills, and women empowerment has always been at the center of my commitment in business, social responsibility and institutions,” says Diana Bracco, President of Fondazione Bracco, which made possible the creation of the Exhibition catalog. “The theme of gender equality is also in the mission of our Foundation. On the education front, we initiated the Mind the STEM Gap Manifesto against gender stereotypes and the multi-year #100experts initiative to give voice to female personalities in so many fields. For all these reasons, it seemed natural for us to stand alongside Terres des Hommes in this exhibition project. The more than one hundred women portrayed in this exhibition, which I am very happy to be a part of, are creators of their freedom of thought and action. I hope that this exhibition will be visited by many girls and young women. And to them I make an appeal: do not stop cultivating your dreams. Cherish them, cherish them, let them flourish. The transformative power of wishes is invaluable.”

“This important initiative gives added value to the Milan Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad.” Said Diana Bianchedi Chief Strategy Planning and Legacy Officer of Milano Cortina 2026. “The upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will leave a lasting intangible legacy to the country and to the generations of tomorrow: the Milan Cortina 2026 Foundation has in fact activated a series of programs, including the cultural one, that aim to engage and bring people closer to values such as inclusion, equality and respect. Projects such as this one, created in support of women, allow us to strengthen the work undertaken in favor of gender equality in the world of sports and a fair representation of women.”

“This extraordinary collection of photographs, made by women for women and in defense of their rights,” says Arianna Ferrini, HR Director of Canon Italia “Represents an important opportunity to keep attention high on issues related to inequality and prejudice against the female universe. It is an honor for us to collaborate as a partner in a project to which we feel particularly close, since equity and inclusion are fundamental values. Indeed, our commitment is to create an increasingly inclusive organization, within which each talent can express and improve, reflecting the diversity of the society in which we live.”

Straordinarie exhibition comes to Milan: 110 shots to tell the story of Italian women

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