Goppion sponsors international conference on the future of museums at Fondazione Luigi Rovati
On November 27, 2025, the Fondazione Luigi Rovati in Milan will host an international conference on one of the most pressing issues facing the cultural sector today: sustainability. Titled Museums and Sustainability: Needs and Opportunities, the first 2025 initiative of the Display & Design ETS Association, co-organized by ICOM-ICAMT and the Rovati Foundation, with the support of Regione Lombardia, the City of Milan, Città di Torino, and Fondazione Cariplo.
Goppion is proud to sponsor the initiative, alongside Intiraimi s.r.l., Md’A Design Agency, APMG International, and D-LAB Training & Consulting. The theme is especially resonant for Goppion, whose work with leading museums across the globe is grounded in a long-term, conservation-led approach, one that combines environmental responsibility with the highest technical and curatorial standards.
The conference will explore the challenges and opportunities facing museums as they navigate the transition to more sustainable practices. Though widely discussed for more than a decade, sustainability remains a difficult goal to integrate fully into institutional frameworks. As stewards of cultural memory and knowledge, museums are increasingly called upon to serve as agents of social cohesion and environmental awareness.
The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, backed by the United Nations, UNESCO, and the European Union, recognizes the role of culture in building a more equitable and resilient future. Yet many questions remain: What does true sustainability look like in the context of cultural heritage? How can museums measure their impact, rethink resource use, and adopt more regenerative models?
Held in one of Milan’s most innovative museum spaces, where Goppion developed a bespoke system of display cases that respond to both curatorial needs and architectural vision, the conference offers a fitting backdrop for a broader conversation about the evolving role of the museum in the 21st century.
At Goppion, we believe that sustainability in exhibition design must go beyond materials and energy efficiency. It includes lifecycle thinking, adaptability, retrofitting, and above all, the ethical commitment to protect cultural treasures for future generations. Events like this are critical opportunities to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and imagine new possibilities.
We are honored to support this dialogue and look forward to contributing to the ongoing discussion.
PROGRAM
9:15 – Institutional Greetings
Representative of Fondazione Luigi Rovati
Presentation by Marina Martin, ICOM-ICAMT Board Member
ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums
9:30 – Welcome Address
Maddalena d’Alfonso, President, Display & Design ETS Association
9:45 – 11:15 | SESSION I – Leadership for Change
How museums can effectively lead the sustainable transition on both local and global scales.
Moderator: Patrizia Asproni, Cultural Manager, President of Confcultura, member of leading national and international scientific committees.
Speakers:
Angelo Crespi – The Case of the Pinacoteca di Brera
Marco Edoardo Minoja – The Case of Fondazione Torino Musei
Adelina De Vito – The Cases of the V&A Museum (London), The MET Museum (New York), and the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
11:15 – 13:00 | SESSION II – The Benefits of Change
Discussing the environmental impacts and the economic advantages of feasible small and large-scale transformations.
Moderator: Guido Guerzoni, Professor at Bocconi University, expert in Cultural Economics and Museum Design.
Speakers:
Jean Hilgersom – The Case of the Kröller-Müller Museum
Matteo Ferrario – The Case of Fondazione Zegna
Giovanna Forlanelli – The Case of Fondazione Luigi Rovati
Marco Bruni – The Case of the Museo del Delta Antico, Comacchio
14:00 – 16:00 | SESSION III – Future Scenarios
Exploring future perspectives of museums and the potential ethical, symbolic, and territorial implications of the sustainable transition.
Moderator: Maddalena d’Alfonso, Architect and Curator, Founder of Md’A Design Agency, President of Display & Design ETS.
Speakers:
Mauro Acito – The Case of TAM – Tower Art Museum, Matera
Philippe Chiambaretta – The Case of Centre Pompidou Massy
Alessia Salerno – The Case of Fondazione Prada
16:00 – 18:00 | SESSION IV – A New Paradigm for the Public
Inclusion, active participation, and reducing gender and accessibility inequalities in the museums of the future.
Moderator: Cristiana Campanini, Art Journalist and Critic, Expert in Cultural Communication and Inclusion.
Speakers:
Giacomo Ardesio – The Case of the Italian Pavilion, Venice Architecture Biennale 2023
Monica Rusconi – The Case of the Museum of Rural Civilization, Stabio
Michele Ciacciofera – Three Sustainable Works in Three Contexts
Anna Fresa – The Case of the Itinerant Exhibition “The Great Italian Vision. The Farnesina Collection”
18:00 – 19:00 | Guided Tour
Guided visit of the museum and current exhibitions.
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