The director of the National Museums of Perugia – Regional Directorate of National Museums of Umbria anticipates several new developments: from the reorganization of the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria to the new exhibitions of the archaeological museums of Spoleto and Orvieto, up to the improvement of reception and accessibility in the GNU.
Costantino D’Orazio has been a regular visitor to Umbria for ten months, since he was appointed director of the National Museums of Perugia – Regional Directorate of National Museums of Umbria and, during this period, he has toured the cities and villages to discover the artistic beauties and more. “Umbria is a region that, from a cultural point of view, is industrious and active, and wants to grow its cultural heritage; we are at the service of this and we will do everything possible to continue to make people understand how extraordinary this region is.” We took stock of these past months with him in his new role, but above all we talked about the future, not only of the National Gallery, but of many places (museums, archaeological parks, villas and castles) that want to grow and make this region shine.
Director, what is your assessment of these first 10 months as director of the National Museums of Perugia – Regional Directorate of Museums of Umbria?
It is certainly a positive assessment on many fronts: the most important is the one related to the number of visitors to all the National Museums of Umbria. This summer alone we recorded an increase – compared to last year – of 25% of visitors across the entire regional network and the National Gallery did 50% more than the average. It is undoubtedly the driving force of this success, but I can also attribute it to the initiative La Sottile Linea d’Umbria – implemented for the first time – which provides (until November 17) a single ticket to visit the National Museums of Umbria and thus also discover other places.
As you were saying, the GNU is the spearhead: is there another structure (museum, archaeological park) on which you have focused or will focus?
There are two. The first is the Rocca Albornoziana in Spoleto which, thanks to the opening of the panoramic routes, records continuous sold out of visitors. They can be visited every weekend and are a winning idea: after seven years of work we managed to open these itineraries at the end of May – which connect the towers – not only panoramic but also of great interest for the content: in each tower, through multimedia supports, different themes are explored in depth, for a complete journey into the Middle Ages. The other place is Castello Bufalini in San Giustino where we opened (on 21 April 2024) the labyrinth located inside the garden: it immediately became a great attraction of the castle. Furthermore, the restored exhibition rooms have recently been open to visitors. Then we have many other projects in the pipeline for the coming years.
Can you give us a preview?
We will have the complete reorganization of the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria. In 2027, the MANU will have changed face and will be completely different: it is an operation that we are carrying out also thanks to funding from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and is comparable to what happened in 2022 at the National Gallery of Umbria. Furthermore, the reorganization work of the Archaeological Museum of Spoleto is also starting and we are working on the design for a new exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Orvieto.
Upcoming news and new exhibitions from the GNU: which of the announced ones are you focusing on the most?
Definitely on The Age of Gold (from October 25 to January 19, 2025) because it is a demanding exhibition not only from the point of view of the layout and the number of works exhibited, but because it enhances a very important section of the Gallery’s permanent collection and allows us to be one of the most important museums in the world with regard to gold background collections. The ones we have are of excellent quality and through this exhibition, we are not only enhancing them, but we are shining a very special spotlight on them: we will compare the use of gold in ancient and contemporary art, in a journey of over fifty works. The exhibition will present comparisons and perspectives between the golden masterpieces of the GNU and the masters of contemporary art: from Gentile da Fabriano to Andy Warhol, from Duccio di Boninsegna to Lucio Fontana, from Cesare Pollino to Yves Klein, Alberto Burri, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mario Ceroli and Carla Accardi, just to name a few.
What does the GNU need to make that extra leap? What will we see in the future?
We are working on reception and accessibility with the use of cognitive tools, both to better understand and delve into the works of art, and to facilitate people with disabilities. We expect to complete the work next year.
This year, even Hollywood has come to visit…
American actors have always frequented Umbria, often staying locked in their homes, while the fact that two such prominent and young actors (Zendaya and Tom Holland) have chosen to leave their private lives and risk their privacy to visit the Gallery means that this museum arouses interest. I am very happy.
Didn’t you know they were coming?
No. We found out when they arrived.
After these months: what is your relationship with Umbria?
Since I arrived, I have started a real tour of the Umbrian villages, meeting mayors and visiting museums, exhibition spaces and parks. I am taking a nice tour. I find it extraordinary that in Umbria all the centers, even the smallest, have mayors and cultural operators ready to enhance the present heritage with great passion. For this reason, the Gallery and all our museums will continue to deepen and make more active the collaboration with these municipalities also through exchanges. Umbria is a region that, from a cultural point of view, is very industrious and active, and above all it wants to grow its cultural heritage; we are at the service of this and we will do everything possible to continue to make people understand how extraordinary this region is.
What awaits us at the Gallery
Homage to Dottori
On the occasion of the Contemporary Day, promoted by AMACI, starting from Saturday 12 October until 19 January 2025 the GNU pays homage to Gerardo Dottori. Through ten paintings, dated between 1906 and 1942, the exhibition retraces the artist’s entire itinerary, illustrating the evolution of his language: the futurist dynamism of the early 1910s, up to the aeropictorial developments of the early 1920s, to arrive at the early 1940s. The exhibition, curated by Massimo Duranti and Andrea Baffoni, is organized in collaboration with the Dottori Archives and constitutes the first in-depth study of the artists and movements of the twentieth century to whom Room 39 of the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria will be dedicated in the coming years.
The Golden Age
From October 25 to January 19, 2025, the Sala Podiani will host The Golden Age, an event that continues and expands the research on the use of gold in ancient and contemporary art, begun in Venice during the Biennale Arti Visive. In a journey of over fifty works, the exhibition will present comparisons, suggestions and perspectives between the golden masterpieces of the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and the work of great contemporary masters: from Gentile da Fabriano to Andy Warhol, from Duccio di Boninsegna to Lucio Fontana, from Cesare Pollino to Yves Klein, Alberto Burri, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mario Ceroli and Carla Accardi, just to name a few of the artists involved. The exhibition is curated by Alessandra Mammì, Veruska Picchiarelli and Carla Scagliosi.
Robert Doisneau
From November 14 to April 21, 2025, Camera Oscura, the photography space of the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, will host the exhibition In breve. Robert Doisneau, curated by Alessandra Mauro. The famous French artist, a singer of everyday life, preferred the subdued power of the rough but witty stanza, the stornello, to the strength of the epic verse: one of the most influential photographers of his time, Doisneau was able to tell the story of post-World War II Paris like no other in a series of images perfect in construction and poetry.
Translation made by an automatic tool
Agnese Priorelli
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