The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, has appointed new directors at three key Italian Cultural Institutes abroad. The appointment procedure took into account candidates’ renown and repute, and was based on the work of a commission that included representatives from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Activities and Tourism, and the Ministry for Education, the Universities and Research.
The new directors are Marco Delogu, at the Italian Cultural Institute in London, Olga Strada in Moscow and Giorgio Van Straten in New York.
Marco DELOGU (1960) is one of Italy’s greatest photographers, He is also a publisher, director, exhibition curator, and artistic director of numerous festivals.
Olga STRADA (1960) is a cultural events organiser. She has an in-depth knowledge of Russian cultural spheres, thanks not least to her initiatives with the country’s most important museums, including the Museum of Moscow and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Giorgio VAN STRATEN (1955) is a writer and winner of the Viareggio Prize, with “Il mio nome a memoria”. He was a member of the boards of directors of the Venice Biennale and the RAI broadcasting corporation, Chair of the Azienda Speciale PalaExpo (Special PalaExpo Company) in Rome and Chair of Agis (the Italian association for the performing arts).
