Collaboration Agreement between the State Hermitage, the comune of Reggio Emilia and the Fondazione Palazzo Magnani
On 15 May 2018, in the Council Hall of the State Hermitage, Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage, Luca Vecchi, Mayor of the comune of Reggio Emilia, and Davide Zanichelli, President of the Fondazione Palazzo Magnani, signed a collaboration agreement.
In his welcome speech, Mikhail Piotrovsky said: “As you know, we have agreements with many regions of Italy. We are not a capital city and so we have agreements not only with capitals. That is our policy and as a result we have splendid ties that manifest themselves in exhibitions and many events that take place in the Hermitage. Today we are signing a collaboration agreement between the State Hermitage, the comune of Reggio Emilia and the Fondazione Palazzo Magnani. It contains many different clauses relating to the exchange of specialists, joint researches and holding joint conferences. However, the first specific item within the framework of the agreement is connected to our very significant exhibition devoted to Piero della Francesca. Our colleagues from the Fondazione Palazzo Magnani are willing to provide the unique manuscript On Perspective in Painting by Piero della Francesca to the Hermitage for the exhibition. It is a great piece of writing that is a foundation for an understanding of the whole of perspective and the essence of the visual illusions of the Renaissance. We are grateful for the opportunity to include that manuscript in the exhibition that we hope to hold in December.”
In his speech, Luca Vecchi expressed gratitude to the State Hermitage and to Mikhail Piotrovsky personally, stating that it was a great honour for him, a great source of pride to be present in one of the world’s most splendid and famous museums for the signing of the agreement. “Our projects connected with cultural heritage and art are important not only from the viewpoint of the study and presentation of art, but also because they permit the creation of a dialogue between different cultures, which can shape further collaboration, further friendship between countries. That is a very important contribution to the development of future generations,” the Mayor emphasized.
The collaboration agreement envisages the strengthening and broadening of cultural and scholarly ties, among other things as part of the programme of the Hermitage–Italy Centre (whose general secretary is Maurizio Cecconi). It is aimed at the study, research and distribution of knowledge about the historical and artistic heritage kept in the State Hermitage and in the cultural institutions of the comune of Reggio Emilia.
Particular attention will be devoted under the agreement to photography. The comune of Reggio Emilia has for many years now hosted the European Photography Festival, the aim of which is to present the art of photography as an occasion for reflection on the complexity of our times and to draw parallels with other creative methods of expressing thoughts – philosophy, literature, social sciences, thus stimulating a dialogue both between these and also between different generations.
The Dance Academy and contemporary dance troupe in Reggio Emilia have won fame not only within Italy, but beyond its borders too. The connection between dance and the figurative arts is one of the topics that interests both parties to the agreement. The long-standing friendship between the Hermitage and the Vaganova Ballet Academy may form the basis for future joint projects with our museum bringing in other cultural institutions as well.