In the historic center of Rimini, two majestic medieval buildings house the contemporary art collection donated to the community by the San Patrignano Foundation. Within the adjoining buildings, the 13th-century Palazzo dell’Arengo and the 14th-century Palazzo del Podestà, is now the PART (Palazzi dell’Arte di Rimini), featuring a diverse and continually expanding collection of over sixty works by renowned international artists. Among them are pieces by Vanessa Beecroft, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Damien Hirst, Carsten Höller, Emilio Isgrò, Agnes Martin, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mario Schifano, Ettore Spalletti, Francesco Vezzoli, Velasco Vitali, and many others.
A heterogeneous collection born not from individual taste but from the desire to give something back to the community and for its benefit. In this regard, it is impossible not to mention the impressive site-specific installation by David Tremlett, created with the help of the young people from the San Patrignano Community, who are engaged in recovering from drug addiction. The mural, visible upon passing through the ancient doors of the Palazzo, is a clear homage to the colors of the surrounding architecture, a symbol of the history and tradition of the Romagna city. A work described as “sculptural” that not only integrates but also “supports its history.” More than just a container, at PART, the medieval architecture of the palaces is in open dialogue with the contemporary artworks.
The restoration of the palaces, which today offers an exhibition space of over 1,770 square meters, was not an easy project to implement, both because of the intention to preserve the original structure and nature of the existing buildings, and due to the eclecticism of the works contained within. The museographic path is not defined by precise curatorial routes; rather, the enjoyment of its content is left free to the visitor.
An exemplary restoration project led by both public and private sectors, PART is the first major Italian “endowment” initiative, a model inspired by Anglo-Saxon practices through which the works in the collection were donated to the San Patrignano Foundation with agreements committing the Foundation not to sell them for a minimum period of five years, thus contributing to their enhancement through sharing with the public. The “reserve fund” that the Foundation has set aside since 2017, also thanks to gifts from artists, gallerists, and patrons like Miuccia Prada, can only be sold later in case of extraordinary needs of the Community.
