Since its establishment in July 2006, the main challenges of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi have been to bring an international approach to the organization of cultural events in Florence, provide a platform for experimentation and a place for debate and discussion, create new synergies with other entities, and become a catalyst for culture in the broadest sense: in short, to “think globally, act locally.”
There are numerous ways in which the Foundation has expressed throughout 2008 its vocation to promote internationally-level cultural events in Florence and to give back Palazzo Strozzi to the city. In particular, the need to identify Palazzo Strozzi as an independent cultural destination can be summed up by the phrase “not just exhibitions.”
With this in mind, the Foundation decided to expand its activities by inaugurating the Centro di Cultura Contemporanea Strozzina, which offers a wide range of exhibitions and related activities, revitalizing the courtyard with a café, comfortable benches to sit on, wireless internet connection, and a very extensive program. Other slogans emphasize the unique approach chosen by Palazzo Strozzi in organizing cultural events: “visible listening” and “wide open eyes.”
A fundamental goal at Palazzo Strozzi is to set up exhibitions that are a pleasure, not a duty. Palazzo Strozzi primarily addresses visitors, and one aspect that makes the experience at Palazzo Strozzi so special is the attention given to them: from special captions for families and children, to routes for the visually impaired, to video information in the courtyard.
The aim of all these innovations is to awaken visitors’ curiosity, stimulating their desire for culture. Despite the difficult economic situation in 2008, which caused a lower influx of tourists to Florence due to the weakness of the dollar and the increasingly deep global crisis, Palazzo Strozzi maintained a very high level of initiative, with a rich program of cultural events including major exhibitions, contemporary art installations, conferences, concerts, and fashion shows.
