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Fotografiska, the renowned global photography museum network, is preparing for a significant change in its New York City presence. After four years of operating from the historic Church Missions House on Park Avenue South, Fotografiska will bid farewell to its current location on September 29th, 2024.

The decision to relocate stems from the museum’s ambitious vision to showcase exceptional artistic talent in a grander, more conducive space. Fotografiska’s commitment to inspiring new perspectives and amplifying the works of celebrated photographers has outgrown the confines of its current home. Before closing its doors on Park Avenue South, Fotografiska will present two captivating exhibitions. From May 31st, visitors can immerse themselves in the enigmatic world of Vivian Maier, the self-taught photographer whose work gained posthumous acclaim. On June 21st, the museum will unveil a showcase dedicated to Bruce Gilden, the renowned New York street photographer. Fotografiska’s popular bar, housed in a former chapel, and its restaurant, Verōnika, will continue to operate until mid-June, allowing patrons to savor the ambiance one last time before the relocation.

Yoram Roth, the executive chairman of Fotografiska’s board, expressed the museum’s unwavering commitment to the city’s art scene, stating, “At the core of Fotografiska is a dedication to inspiring new perspectives by amplifying some of the greatest artists of our time. As it’s become clear that our current space is not conducive to this vision, our commitment to the city’s art scene remains unwavering.” After vacating its current premises, Fotografiska plans to temporarily exhibit a century of New York nightlife photography while actively seeking a larger, more suitable location to continue its mission of showcasing exceptional photography.

The Church Missions House, Fotografiska’s current home, is owned by RFR Holding, the real estate company of art collector Aby Rosen. In 2022, RFR Holding put the property up for sale with an asking price of $135 million, a significant increase from the $50 million they paid for it in 2014. As Fotografiska embarks on this new chapter, the anticipation builds for the museum’s next grand showcase, where it can continue to inspire and captivate audiences with the power of photography.

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From the Complesso di Sant’Orsola to the Teatro del Maggio, from the Certosa of Florence to Villa del Poggio Imperiale, and all the way to Villa Tornabuoni Lemmi: Florence boasts thirty enchanting places, often unjustly overlooked by more traditional tourists, chosen for the third edition of the Cultural Associations Festival. This itinerant celebration, bringing culture to thirty of the city’s most fascinating locations, is scheduled from September 4th to 21st. Get ready for a series of events spanning history, art, literature, and music: a packed calendar featuring exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and performances that will not only entertain the public but also introduce them to the lesser-known side of the cradle of the Renaissance.

The Florence festival will kick off with a concert and a theatrical performance on September 4th, taking place on the captivating stage of Teatro della Pergola. Special guests include Eleonora Bellocci (soprano) and Elisabetta Sepe (pianist), along with Alessio Boni and Marcello Prayer, who will recite the verses of Alda Merini. In addition to guided tours of the spaces within Teatro del Maggio Musicale, Palazzo Ridolfi, and Villa Brewster Garden, the festival will be enriched by conferences dedicated to science, art, and cultural heritage: from meetings at the Complesso di Sant’Orsola to symposiums held at Villa Medicea La Petraia, and celebrations of Margherita Hack, with a series of events dedicated to her at the Fortezza da Basso, as well as events honoring Italo Calvino on the occasion of his centenary, at Villa del Poggio Imperiale. Notable initiatives include “From Residence to Final Rest” and “From House to House,” which will allow the public to get closer to some artists’ residences, such as the studio of the painter Carlo Adolfo Schlattler and the Villa La Pietra New York University.

In addition to the festival’s activities, organized by the Centro Associazioni Culturali Fiorentine APS, led by Antonia Ida Fontana, further events related to music and literature will take place for an entire month, from September 23rd to October 20th, during the “post-festival” period. Among these are “Pinocchio: A Myth” at the National Central Library of Florence and workshops at the Casa Museo Sigfrido Bartolini in Pistoia. “The gathering of associations […] provides the public with a multitude of stimuli aimed at social cohesion and the cultural growth of citizens, thus realizing the purpose expressed in our motto: Together to support culture,” says President Antonia Ida Fontana.

Source: Sky Arte