by Redazione 26/10/2026
Categories: News / Disclaimer
Rossella Farinotti will lead the Termoli Museum of Contemporary Art starting December 1, 2026, overseeing the expansion of the museum’s spaces, the promotion of the Termoli Prize collection, and new exhibition projects. The first exhibition under the new direction is scheduled for February 2027.
Rossella Farinotti is the new artistic director of MACTE—the Museum of Contemporary Art in Termoli. A Milan-based curator, contemporary art critic, and journalist born in 1984, she will officially assume the position on December 1, 2026, ushering in a new phase for the Molise-based institution, which is committed to a path of growth and renewal. The appointment was made by direct selection, following a process initiated last spring by the Board of Directors and President Paolo De Matteis Larivera. Farinotti was chosen for the expertise she has gained in managing cultural events and projects, in engaging with artists and institutions, and in her ability to involve local communities through contemporary art.
The new director takes over from Caterina Riva, who has led MACTE since September 2020. The museum expressed its gratitude to her for the dedication and care with which she guided the institution’s growth during her two terms, contributing to its scholarly and programmatic development. “I conclude my tenure at MACTE knowing that I have helped shape an open concept of a museum, made possible by the collaboration with artists, curators, professionals, and art workers who have accompanied me on this journey,” said Caterina Riva. “It has been a privilege to help make the MACTE Museum a place for research, encounter, and dialogue. I thank those who have supported me in my responsibilities over the years, and I sincerely wish Rossella Farinotti all the best as she works toward the future of our important cultural institution.”
Rossella Farinotti’s research focuses on the relationship between contemporary art, urban regeneration, and community. Her curatorial work connects artistic production with public space and participation through projects designed to revitalize places and create new opportunities for art to engage with the local community. The new director will bring this approach to MACTE by engaging with the museum’s history, the heritage of the Premio Termoli collection, and the institution’s future prospects. The artistic direction program will be presented after she takes office, while the first exhibition is scheduled for February 2027.
Farinotti’s arrival coincides with an important moment for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Termoli, which is at the center of an expansion project that includes new spaces for the conservation and exhibition of works, a library specializing in contemporary art, and improvements to accessibility. The completion of the project would enhance exhibition, educational, and research activities, expanding opportunities for public engagement and participation. In this context, the new artistic director will be called upon to highlight MACTE’s identity and develop its activities, strengthening the dialogue between the collection, contemporary research, and the local community.
A curator, contemporary art critic, and journalist, Rossella Farinotti has served as artistic director of Cremona Contemporanea since 2023 and as executive directorof the Gio’ Pomodoro Archive since 2016. She also teaches at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and at NABA in Milan, where she focuses on cultural promotion and art communication. Throughout her career, she has conceived and curated projects that explore the relationship between art, urban space, and participation. These include PORTOFRANCO, held in a former bank building in Castelfranco Veneto; How Far Should We Go? at the ICA Foundation in Milan; and the public art project MALDIMARE, co-curated with Maurizio Cattelan. Among the initiatives to which he has contributed is also *La città che sale*, a public artwork by Vedovamazzei created in collaboration with the Cittadella degli Archivi in Milan. Farinotti has also curated projects that bridge art and business for the brands Sergio Rossi and Canali. From 2008 to 2010, she collaborated with the Department of Culture of the City of Milan on initiatives dedicated to art and cinema, including the project linked to Maurizio Cattelan’s L.O.V.E.
“I accept this appointment with enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility, and I thank the President and the Board of Directors for their trust,” commented Rossella Farinotti. “MACTE holds an important history and has demonstrated how a museum can foster relationships and opportunities for learning rooted in the community where it operates. I wish to build upon this strength—the Museum as a space that listens to Termoli and its residents—to create new opportunities for engagement with artists and their artistic languages. Building on the careful path laid out by Caterina Riva, I aim to develop the museum’s potential and open up new avenues for research, collaboration, and exchange, capable of leading MACTE toward new milestones.”
“The decision to directly entrust Rossella Farinotti with the role of artistic director stems from a reflection on MACTE’s prospects and the skills we believe are necessary for its future,” stated Paolo De Matteis Larivera, President of MACTE. “We have recognized in her career the ability to connect artistic research, project development, and an attention to context—qualities we consider crucial for consolidating the Museum’s role and developing its potential. With this appointment, the Board of Directors assumes a clear responsibility for setting the direction, choosing a professional with whom to share the objectives of the next phase. We extend our thanks to Caterina Riva for the invaluable work she has done during her two terms, during which she made a decisive contribution to building MACTE’s identity and standing.”
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| Rossella Farinotti is the new artistic director of MACTE in Termoli: she will take up the position on December 1 |
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