The Italian dealer Massimo De Carlo, who opened his gallery in Milan in 1987 and now has outposts in London, Hong Kong and Paris, is to open a private foundation in Piedmont, northwestern Italy.
On signing a memorandum with officials from the province of Asti on 12 July, De Carlo says the new venture "not only enables the realisation of a new hub for contemporary art but also opens up new institutional and cultural prospects for the gallery".
The aim, De Carlo adds, is "to bring the most intriguing voices of the international contemporary art scene to the territory in a remarkable landscape context complemented by an architectonic approach that exudes great respect despite its monumentality".
According to the press release, the planned complex will be the "first private hub dedicated to contemporary art" in the province and is due to be built "in the coming years". Alongside an exhibition programme, De Carlo will offer artist residencies for international practitioners, including those not represented by the gallery. Over more than 35 years, De Carlo has expanded his roster to represent more than 60 artists such as Carsten Höller, Steven Parrino, Maurizio Cattelan and Danh Võ.
The mayor of Asti, Maurizio Rasero, says in a statement: "We wholeheartedly support a project that aims to enrich our cultural heritage, serving as a collector for carefully selected contemporary art artefacts of outstanding quality. Asti and its province deserve an international platform, and initiatives like these are decisive steps in the right direction."
The Swiss architect Valerio Olgiati has been instructed to design the foundation’s main building, while De Carlo’s team is due to launch a competition for young Italian architects to develop the site’s service buildings.