I AM YOU – Individual and Collective Identities in Contemporary Art and Design: this is the theme of the new edition of the Florence Biennale – International Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Design, which runs from 14 to 22 October at the Spadolini and the Cavaniglia Pavilions at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence. The event features a rich programme of events, performances, workshops, talks, conferences and the presence of a series of guests of honour, artists and designers from all over the world. Among the numerous activities of the exhibition is the conference Museology of the Present. Inclusive and Sustainable Museums is Something you Become, which will be held on Friday 20 October from 10 am to 7 pm in the theatre area of the Spadolini Pavilion. The event – curated by Domenico Piraina (director of Palazzo Reale in Milan) and Maurizio Vanni (museologist, University of Pisa and Superintendence of Lucca and Massa Carrara, as well as moderator of the talk) -, will focus on the following topics: economic, social, environmental and holistic sustainability, social responsibility, functional technology and corporate museums.

“The museology of the present,” we read on the Florence Biennale website, “prompts us to rethink the sustainability, enhancement and management of museums: museum functions are increasing in placing the visitor at the centre of every cultural offer. Will museum structures be able to adapt to the new challenges proposed by ICOM in its new definition of a museum? Will they be able to devise experiential inclusion projects for different sectors of the public, meet the needs of social responsibility and holistic sustainability, and significantly reduce their environmental impact?”. These are some of the issues that will be addressed by professionals with interdisciplinary expertise, such as museum presidents and directors, museologists, specialists in cultural marketing and economic management, psychiatrists, bio-architects, specialists in technological innovation and holistic sustainability.

Among the scheduled speakers will be Paolo Naldini, director of Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto and president of Accademia Unidee. The other guest speakers at the conference will be Angelo Crespi (president of the MAGA, Gallarate), Paolo Giulierini (director of the MANN, Naples), Chiara Valdambrini (director of Santa Maria della Scala, Siena), Franco Achilli (architect and exhibit designer, IULM University, Milan), Christiana Ruggeri (vice-president of Greenaccord Onlus and RAI Tg2 journalist), Fabio Viola (videogame designer, gamification specialist), Maria Grazia Mattei (president of the MEET – Digital Culture Center, Milan), Michele Lanziger (president of ICOM Italia), Enrico Marchi (psychiatrist and museotherapy specialist), Annalisa Banzi (specialist in “Art and Well-being”, University of Milan Bicocca), Perla Gianni Falvo (Art Perception International and Board of Directors of the Industrial Design Association), Chiara Teolato (director of Villa Regina – Piedmont Regional Museums Directorate), Paolo Cavallo (director of the Campari Museum, Milan) and Marina Vignozzi Paszkowski (curator of the Bitossi Industrial Artistic Museum, Montelupo Fiorentino).