An Italian has been chosen to run Warsaw’s Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), making him the first foreigner to be selected for a senior post in Poland’s recent history. Fabio Cavallucci, the former director of the Galleria Civica di Arte Contemporanea in Trento, and this year’s curator of the International Sculpture Biennale of Carrara, will start the new job in September at the art centre in the Ujazdówski Castle.
“I was attracted to the CCA because it is not a museum, but an arts centre where visual art meets theatre, music and cinema,” said Cavallucci. “Contemporary art should be combined with various disciplines in order to grow,” he added. A major factor in his appointment was his knowledge of Polish art. Cavallucci said that, “following a trip to Poland ten years ago, I returned with the impression that Polish art was definitely one of the most interesting worldwide”. He has staged exhibitions in Trento of Polish artists including Wilhelm Sasnal and Katarzyna Kozyra.
The appointment is a milestone for the Polish art world. The directors of public museums in Poland are traditionally appointed by the ministry of culture. An open letter submitted to the ministry led to an international call for applications for the CCA position. An independent jury panel subsequently voted in favour of Cavallucci, who was officially appointed in August.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Italian to run Warsaw art centre'
