23 cities are candidates for the title of the first Italian Capital of Contemporary Art. Here are which ones are

As many as 23 Italian cities have submitted their applications to compete for the title of Italian Capital of Contemporary Art 2026, a new initiative established this year by the Ministry of Culture, which announced just today the names of the candidates. The call for applications, which closed on June 30, saw municipalities send their applications and dossiers to the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate General for Contemporary Creativity.

The cities that submitted applications are Aielli (L’Aquila); Bolsena (Viterbo); Carrara; Cassano allo Ionio (Cosenza); Catanzaro; Fabriano (Ancona); Gallarate (Varese); Gibellina (Trapani); Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine); Mantova; Moliterno (Potenza); Nichelino (Turin); Palazzolo Acreide (Syracuse); Palmi (Reggio Calabria); Peccioli (Pisa); Pescara; Quarto (Naples); Quattordio (Alessandria); Reggio Calabria; Rionero in Vulture (Potenza); Todi (Perugia); Venice; Vigevano (Pavia).

A jury of five independent experts, recognized in the field of contemporary culture and visual arts, will be tasked with reviewing the projects received. By September 15, 2024, the jury will select a maximum of five finalist cities that will be invited to public hearings. Then, by October 30, 2024, the jury will propose to the Minister of Culture the city it deems most suitable to be awarded the title of Italian Capital of Contemporary Art 2026. The winning city will benefit from a grant of one million euros for the implementation of the activities planned in the dossier.

The title of Italian Capital of Contemporary Art represents a unique opportunity to promote and enhance the artistic and cultural heritage of Italian cities, stimulating new initiatives and innovative projects in the field of contemporary visual arts. The establishment of this title aims to encourage the spread of contemporary culture, creating a dialogue between local communities and the international art scene, and to support the economic and tourism growth of the cities involved.

“The Italian Capital of Contemporary Art,” said Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano, “an initiative that I strongly desired and that stands alongside the already existing Capital of Culture and Capital of the Book, was created to create the past of our future, setting the goal of projecting forward and above all allowing young people to measure themselves against art and their ideas. In the Italy of tomorrow, there will have to be something beautiful and appreciable that has been created in these years. This activity will allow a spotlight to be shone on cities capable of making creativity the cornerstone of their development.”

Image: Carrara, the mudaC - Museum of Contemporary Art

23 cities are candidates for the title of the first Italian Capital of Contemporary Art. Here are which ones are

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