SUART 2026

In a context where sustainability is increasingly becoming a key criterion for evaluating public policy, investment and development strategies, the cultural sector and artistic production are also being called upon to address new economic, social and environmental responsibilities.

Against this backdrop, SUART – SUstainable ART returns for its 2026 edition at Palazzo Reale in Milan. The annual international forum and exhibition is held under the artistic curatorship and scientific direction of art critic Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico.

The 2026 edition is organised by the Ethicando Association and the Maria Cristina Carlini ETS Foundation in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan, Palazzo Reale and the partner universities Comillas Pontifical University of Madrid (ICADE), University of Milan (Department of Private Law and History of Law), the University of Florence (Department of Legal Sciences), and UnitelmaSapienza in Rome. The event comprises an international conference on the sustainability of art and an exhibition by the sculptor Maria Cristina Carlini entitled “Materie viventi” at Palazzo Reale. The forum and the exhibition opening are held under the patronage of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, whilst the entire event enjoys the patronage of the Antonietta Viganone Foundation, the Sangregorio Giancarlo Foundation and the Associazione 100 Amici del Libro, as well as other public and private bodies.

SUART is an international event of an academic, interdisciplinary, institutional and artistic nature, dedicated to analysing the evolution of the concept of sustainability in art within the traditional spheres of sustainable development, such as environmental, social and economic issues. The forum brings together institutions, universities and key players from the cultural and economic sectors in a discussion aimed at highlighting the role of art as a driver of sustainable development and cultural policy.

SUART, together with SUSTART (SUSTainable ART), both conceived by Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico, constitute the two forums for public scientific and institutional debate on the theme of sustainability in art, promoted by the “Sustainable Art” scientific committee of the Ethicando Association.

Whilst SUART, which is primarily scientific in nature, is organised annually in institutional museum and/or academic/university venues in Italy and/or abroad, SUSTART, which has a more institutional focus involving mainly representatives of local, national and international public bodies, takes place in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies.

The event is scheduled for Thursday 9 July 2026 in the Conference Hall of Palazzo Reale from 11am to 6pm. The conference will conclude with the inauguration of Maria Cristina Carlini’s exhibition “Materie viventi”, which will be open to the public from 10 July to 30 August 2026 in the outdoor areas (Courtyard of Honour and Garden) of Palazzo Reale.

Following the opening remarks by Tommaso Sacchi, Councillor for Culture of the City of Milan; Domenico Piraina, Director of Culture for the City of Milan and Director of Palazzo Reale; and Lorenzo Pacini, Councillor for Youth Policies for Milan City Council’s 1st District, the conference proceedings will open with an introductory address by Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico. This will then be followed by a presentation by Chiara Rostagno, Deputy Director of the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, who, together with Alessandro Coscia, Coordinator of Exhibitions and Events at the Pinacoteca di Brera, will discuss the sustainability of contemporary museum offerings, particularly in light of the ongoing development of new technologies. This will be followed by welcoming remarks from representatives of the sponsoring organisations.

The academic contribution will feature Albina Candian and Laura Castelli from the University of Milan, as well as Sara Landini from the University of Florence, Abel B. Veiga Copo and José Luis Rey Pérez from the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, who will offer a comparative perspective on art law and the regulation of cultural markets within the European context in the digital age. Clodia Vurro and Maria Letizia Giorgetti from the University of Milan will provide an economic-legal analysis of the relationship between artistic production and sustainable development. Federico Boni, from the University of Milan, and Anna Lisa Tota, from Roma Tre University (currently Vice-Rector), will explore the role of art in contemporary cultural processes and in shaping the public discourse on sustainability. Rosella Castellano from the University of Rome UnitelmaSapienza and Emanuele Vannucci from the University of Pisa will speak on the risk to territorial cultural identity. Roberto Rosso from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan will examine the evolution of contemporary photographic language alongside the development of new technologies.

Alongside the academic contributions, the forum will feature contributions and case studies relating to the role of foundations, associations and economic operators in the promotion of art. Francesco Fabbiani, Domenica D’Elia, Antonio Piccolo, Francesca Marcellini and Alain Salem will present the perspective of foundations and associations engaged in cultural promotion, whilst Simone Bemporad, Jean-Pierre Diserens, Vania Franceschelli, Cosima F. Barone and Emma Ursich will speak on the topic of financial investment in art in the digital age.

These initiatives form part of the international debate promoted by UNESCO, which identifies 23 impact indicators to assess the effects of exhibitions and cultural projects on

local economic development, social inclusion, accessibility, training, regional reputation and environmental sustainability.

A framework that allows art to be viewed as cultural infrastructure rather than a self-referential sphere, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the evolution of ESG criteria, which are now also applied to the creative sector.

The SUART programme has taken place at various venues: in 2024 in Madrid, at the Comillas Pontifical University, with a focus on the artist Antonietta Viganone; in 2025 in Milan, at the Fabbrica del Vapore during Milan ArtWeek, with an exhibition by Tiziano Calcari.

“The sustainability of art is no longer an abstract or purely ethical concept – says Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico, artistic curator and scientific director of the exhibition – It is now a systemic parameter that concerns production processes, promotional models, institutional policies and art’s ability to generate lasting value for communities and local areas. In this sense, art has become an integral part of public policy”.

As part of SUART 2026, this theoretical exploration is given concrete expression through the exhibition “Materie viventi” by Maria Cristina Carlini, promoted by Palazzo Reale, the Municipality of Milan and the Maria Cristina Carlini ETS Foundation in collaboration with the Ethicando Association. Curated by Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico, the exhibition project takes the form of a practical application of sustainable art, in which materials, the creative process and the viewing experience become an integral part of the reflection on the relationship between matter, time and human responsibility.

With SUART 2026, Milan thus becomes the venue for a structured dialogue between culture, institutions and the economy, recognising art’s central role in shaping models of sustainable development and contemporary cultural policies.

***************

SUART Scientific Committee (in alphabetical order):

• Federico Boni (Full Professor of Sociology of Cultural and Communication Processes at UNIMI)
• Albina Candian (Full Professor of Comparative Private Law at UNIMI)
• Rosella Castellano (Full Professor of Mathematical Methods in Economics, Actuarial Science, and Finance, Director of the Finance and Business School and Vice Rector for Internationalization at UnitelmaSapienza in Rome)
• Laura Castelli (Associate Professor of Private Law at UNIMI)
• Alessandro Coscia (Exhibitions and Events Coordinator at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan)
• Marco Eugenio Di Giandomenico (Art Critic; Lecturer in Art Criticism on the Advanced Studies Programme, UNIMI; Curator of the Maria Cristina Carlini Exhibition; Coordinator of the SUART Scientific Committee)
• Maria Letizia Giorgetti (Associate Professor of Industrial Economics at the University of Milan. Coordinator of the First-level Master’s programme in Business Innovation at UNIMI)
• Sara Landini (Full Professor of Economic Law at UNIFI)
• Miguel Martínez Muñoz (Associate Professor of Market Regulation at the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid)
• José Luis Rey Pérez (Full Professor of Philosophy of Law at the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid)
• Roberto Rosso (Full Professor of Photography at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan)
• Chiara Rostagno (Deputy Director of the Brera Art Gallery in Milan)
• Anna Lisa Tota (Vice-Rector and Full Professor of Sociology of Art at Roma Tre University)
• Emanuele Vannucci (Researcher in Mathematical Methods in Economics, Actuarial Science, and Finance at the University of Pisa)
• Abel B. Veiga Copo (Head of the Department of Economic and Social Law and Full Professor of Art Law at the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid)
• Clodia Vurro (Full Professor of Economics and Business Management at the University of Milan)

***************

For further information: Associazione Ethicando, Viale Luigi Majno 38 – 20129 Milan; www.ethicando.it; www.sustainableartworks.com; email: info@ethicando.it; tel. +39 02 39569537.

SUART 2026 General Press Office: SEC Newgate Italia, Cinzia Ghilotti cinzia.ghilotti@secnewgate.it; Laura Gialdi laura.gialdi@secnewgate.it

Press Office of the Cristina Carlini ETS Foundation: IBC Irma Bianchi Communication, info@irmabianchi.it

#marcoeugeniodigiandomenico #suart #ethicando #fondazionemariacristinacarlini #fondazioneantoniettaviganone #comunedimilano #palazzoreale #100amicidellibro #fondazionesangregoriogiancarlo #mariacristinacarlini #unimi #unifi #comillasuniversity #unitelmasapienza #ministerodelleimpreseedelmadeinitaly #artsustainable #sustainableart