The Farnesina Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was awarded the 2017 “Mecenati del XXI secolo – Institutional art awards” prize as the best art collection in a public institution. The award ceremony took place today at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism (MIBACT).
This award was organised by the PptArt artistic promotion society in association with MIBACT, Confindustria, ALES (art, work and service society), Museimpresa (museums and industry association) and Luiss (independent international University). It was the first year that there was a “Public Institution” category. The intent of the organisers is to award the commitment of both private and public institutions in order to acknowledge that works of art are not merely ornamental, but serve as a means to an end. Since 1959, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has furnished its premises with the intention of promoting the image of Italy, including through artworks. It began building up its modern art collection in 2000 as a cultural promotion to support foreign policies. In seventeen years, the collection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has built up a collection of 435 works, supporting 15 different exhibitions in over 25 countries throughout the world.
The collection is open to the public by appointment on its Open Days, and can also be seen on the website www.collezionefarnesina.esteri.it.
