FLORENCE.- Palazzo Strozzi is preparing to change leadership. After 8 years of a qualified and highly appreciated presence, marked by major changes and innovations, James Bradburne will leave Palazzo Strozzi. He will end his time as Director on March 14 with the inauguration of Power and Pathos, Bronzes of the Hellenistic World, organized in collaboration with the J.P Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the National Gallery in Washington and the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana.

Arturo Galansino, who is currently Curator of Exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, will assume the role of General Director of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi starting on 15 March 2015. James Bradburne will remain as a Consultant of the Foundation until 31 May 2015.

Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi said: “I would like to thank James for his exceptional contribution. What Palazzo Strozzi is today is largely due to his work, his vision, his passion. Under his leadership Palazzo Strozzi has become an internationally renowned institution, Florence’s most dynamic cultural center, offering a wide range of major exhibitions, concerts, installations, cultural events and educational programs.”

“The appointment of Arturo Galansino is a sign of continuity in the further development of the Foundation. I am sure that thanks to his enthusiasm and International experience, Arturo will continue to build on the success and the high reputation achieved by James”.

James Bradburne was appointed General Director of Palazzo Strozzi in September 2006 and he immediately launched a twofold mission: bringing international level cultural events to Florence and giving the Palazzo Strozzi back to the city and its citizens. This project has been fully achieved during these 8 years through a complete relaunch of Palazzo Strozzi as a cultural laboratory, which through its great exhibitions and activities has positioned itself as a centre for research and creativity, as well as an instrument for the city of Florence’s development, creating a model for other Italian and foreign museums.

In recent years, Palazzo Strozzi hosted successful exhibitions of national and international significance such as Cézanne in Florence (2007), Bronzino(2010), The Springtime of the Renaissance (2013), Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino 2014, Picasso and the Spanish modernity (2014-2015), demonstrating that creating value with culture is possible.

In the eight years since its establishment, Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi can claim to have created a strong brand, which is recognized at local, national and international level for the quality of exhibitions, cultural activities, creating cultural and economic value for Florence and the surrounding area.

The success of the Foundation, under James Bradburne’s leadership, is due to two factors. First of all the autonomous governance, which has strengthened in recent years and ensured a three-year programme of major exhibitions and secondly the economic stability thanks to the continued support of public and private partners. In this way Palazzo Strozzi has developed a strategy of exceptional cultural coherence: a brand, which has quickly spread to become recognizable worldwide.

Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi wishes to thank James Bradburne for having made such an important cultural heritage available to an increasing number of visitors, and for his great success in bringing people closer to culture with new and exciting initiatives. By combining passion and professionalism, James has re-launched an important city institution, creating fruitful relationships within the city of Florence.

Starting from March 2015, Arturo Galansino will be the new Director of Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi. Galansino returns to Italy after a brilliant career working at several prestigious international museums and galleries including the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the National Gallery of London and the Louvre. Galansino studied in Milan and then received his PhD in Art History and Criticism from Turin. He is a specialist of Mantegna and Leonardo Da Vinci, and author and contributor to a number of Arts publications.