A peripheral organization for the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage which is responsible for the tutelage, monitoring, protection and conservation of the architectural heritage and the landscape of the two provinces of Siena and Grosseto. Its activities, in accordance with the legal instruments of the Italian State defined in the Code for Cultural heritage and Landscapes (legislative decree 22 January 2004 n.42), are carried out with strict adherence to all of the measures created for the heritage protection, in particular through the restrictive clause: an administrative act that recognizes an explicit cultural value, and through restoration and conservation aims to ensure that the cultural heritage and the values relating to it, are successfully handed down to future generations.

Siena is a small city but it has a grand history. The art produced in the city and the local area is an important element in the history of European civilization , especially in the period from 1200 to 1600. This extraordinary heritage requires particular care and attention. The city is strongly commited to the maintenance and restoration of its works of art. The resources that the Siena City Council provide for this purpose are significantly higher than the average for town and city councils in Italy. Architecture, sculpture, frescoes, gold, wooden objects, drawings and prints: are the most frequent typologies upon which intervention and restoration projects are carried out every year. The contribution of scientists regarding techniques, conservation and restoration is indispensible. The Siena City Council also includes a technical organ: the CERR (European Centre for Research in Conservation and Restoration), whose office is situated in the magnificent Santa Maria della Scala, the CERR is a vital reference point for all restoration initiatives in Siena and the surrounding area.

Each year the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation grants a significant part of its resources to the arts, the funding focuses on: restoration; renovation and the enhancement of visitor potential and the appreciation of existing historical and architectural heritage; the promotion and organization of exhibitions; the finance of the running costs for organizations that operate in the field of art and museums. In 2006 the Foundation supported 327 third party projects in the cultural heritage sector, contributing almost 29 million euro.
Commitment is concentrated on the restoration and maintenance of features of historical and artistic heritage mainly within the territory of Siena and the provinces of Grosseto and Firenze.
Great attention is also placed on cultural initiatives and events, such as exhibitions and concerts and the creation of new museums. Work is ongoing in the field of artistic restoration of the churches as a central element of the cultural history of the region. A key feature has been the support provided to the Opera della Metropolitana di Siena for a significant improvement to the central timpano on the facade of the Duomo in Siena, the functional reorganization of the spaces within the Museo dell' Opera and the extraordinary maintenance of the roofs and attics.

The Foundation continues to support the museum structures of Santa Maria della Scala and the Fondazione Musei Senesi in order to enhance appreciation of museums in the province of Siena in 2007 ,through the sponsorship of museum management, restoration and also didactic and editorial initiatives.

There have also been events such as the Collegiata di San Gimignano, the Fondazione Ravello which organizes the Accademia Musicale Chigiana festival.

The Foundation's participation in cultural activities in the city of Siena are increasingly extensive, including the planning and management of large events. With the aim of rationalization of investment in this sector, in autumn 2005 the Foundation created the instrumental organization "Vernice Progetti Culturali" whose role is to supervise the organization and promotion of the exhibitions and events financed by the foundation, in cooperation with all project stakeholders.
Following the exhibition "Siena and Rome" as part of the 2006 cultural programme, there was also the notable success of the double appointment with the exhibition of Siena and Pienza, in order to celebrate the sixth centenary of the birth of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini (1405-1464) later elected Pope (PioII).
The Collection of Art from Siena, works from the XV to XVII centuries also merits a reference, as part of the Foundation's ongoing initiatives, this exhibition presented the first part of an operation to reacquire Masterpieces from the Siena school and return them to the city. This is just part of the testimony to the rich blossoming of art in the territory; this particular initiative represents a precious resource, which the city has previously been unable to enjoy. This review was considered a great success by both critics and the general public.

Vernice Progetti Culturali, founded in 2005, is an organization instrumental to the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation regarding the Foundation's involvement in exhibitions, heritage sites and cultural events. Its role is key to the organization and promotion of exhibitions and events financed by the Foundation, while also putting itself at the disposition of stakeholders to ensure the successful completion and coordination of planned activities.

The scientific tutelage and planning are entrusted to local agents and organizations, which can take advantage of the professionalism and experience of experts from various institutional and cultural backgrounds, that are provided by V.P.C.

Since 2005, numerous exhibitions have been presented, such as: Siena and Rome; Raffaello,Caravaggio and the heroes of an ancient bond; PioII, the city , the arts celebrating the sixth centenary of the birth of the great humanist Enea Silvio Piccolomini; The Masterpieces of Siena from the Gothic to the Renaissence at the Narodna Galerija in Lubiana, thanks to whom it was also possible to reach beyond national frontiers in the promotion of some particularly important works of art that represent an significant period in the history of art in Siena; artists such as Pietro Lorenzetti, Jacopo della Quercia, Francesco di Giorgio Martini

Currently showing until 11 March 2007 is the exhibition at the Santa Maria Museum Complex Passion and Art. The collections of Cesare Brandi e Luigi Magnani. During its first month this exhibition was recieved with great acclaim from both critics and the general public. The show includes paintings by the great masters of the 20th century, taken from the collections of two characters of outstanding importance in 20th century culture and for whom this year represents the centenery of their birth: Cesare Brandi e Luigi Magnani. Amongst the work displayed are the paintings of Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Giorgio de Chirico, Renato Guttuso and Giorgio Morandi. In tribute to Luigi Magnani and Cesare Brandi's love of music, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana has created a small exhibition of rare artefacts that can be found in the Palazzo Chigi Saracini: musical instruments, books, musicians' autographs, objects and other curiosities from the collections of the Saracini and Chigi families.

In February 2004, Arcus S.p.A-an organization for the development of Art, culture and the performing arts - was founded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, in accordance with the law:16 October 2003, n.291. The social capital is fully financed by the Ministry of the Economy, while the organization's operations are derived from the annual decrees of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage- in addition to the rights of the significant stakeholders/ in concert with the Ministry of National Infrastructure. Arcus may, however, develop some autonomous initiatives.

The stated objective of Arcus is to sustain-using an innovative approach, the important and ambitious projects relating to cultural activities and heritage, including inter-relationships with elements of the national strategic infrastructure.
The Arcus mission to sustain projects consists of: the identification of important initiatives, the provision of assistance in the completion of plans, the intervention when required in organizational and technical aspects, participation -where opportune or necessary, in project finance, monitoring progress and contributing to a successful and satisfactory conclusion for each initiative.

It is important to understand the operational specifics of Arcus, in that: the organization intervenes to provide organizational and financial assistance for projects of perceived importance, while in no way can it be considered a agency for the distribution of funds and neither may it be considered a "golden goose" for private or public funding.

Arcus is an original instrument for the support and launch of important initiatives and projects within the Italian cultural panorama. Economic support, in the case of intervention, must be seen as a strategic aspect of a wider cultural objective that is conceptually valid and operationally shared.

Examining in closer detail, rcus provides assistance to finalized initiatives, among others:

* predisposed projects for restoration and the enhanced appreciation of elements of cultural heritage;
* tutelage of the landscape and cultural heritage through activities and intervention aimed at diminishing the impact of the existing infrastructure or infrastructural projects under construction;
* supporting the planning, monitoring and evaluation of intervention in the sector of cultural heritage;

* the promotion of planning interventions in the sector of national heritage ,Cultural Activities and the Performing Arts;
* the identification and support of projects to enhance appreciation and protection of Cultural heritage through interventions of a technological nature;
* the support of projects inherent to cultural tourism, in its widest form;
* the promotion of the establishment of cultural basins, i.e. geographical areas that have a shared theme of cultural heritage, through an integrated and systematic vision capable of connecting local cultural heritage , the infrastructure, tourism, transport and related activities;
* the intervention across the whole sector in order to ensure that locations of cultural heritage are fully accessible to disabled visitors.

For the realization of its activities , Arcus utilizes the resources defined in article 60 of the law 27 December 2002, n.289 (Finanziaria2003). This legislation declares that each year 3% of the allocation provided for the infrastructure shall be channelled towards the costs of tutelage and intervention favouring National Heritage and Cultural activities. Arcus is identified as the recipient structure for these funds. In accordance with article 3 of the law 31 March 2005, n.43, the above percentage shall be increased annually by an increment of 2%.
The organization may also receive funding from allocations from the European Union, the State or other public or private bodies or individuals.
Arcus also aims to attract and unite potential stakeholders in each project. Bank Foundations, Trusts, local organizations, civil organizations, universities and private companies may also be contacted with the aim to ensure and consolidate coordinated financial resources for a particular initiative.
Arcus ambitious project is to become a bond that allows the optimization of the systematic capacities of promotion and planning support for the realization of targeted initiatives and to improve the overall collection of heritage and cultural activities, expressly through conservation, and the enhancement of resources and public access to them. Arcus encourages cooperation between all actors, thus contributing to the successful completion of cultural initiatives as and when they emerge.

Company Profile

Who we are

Palomar New Media is a company that has worked in the field of digital communication since 1999, we are a team of 22 professionals in the information and communication technology sector made up of web development experts, art directors, graphic designers and editors with international experience.

The company works with medium and large sized organizations, in addition to the public administration and is specialized in information and web design, the planning and development of usable, accessible, multi-channel solutions.

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How we work

Palomar New Media's approach is based on the conviction that the optimization of a complex system is the result of a harmonious collaboration between its elementary components.

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In the era of multimedia, the applications developed at Palomar New Media are orientated towards a genuine and synergic integration of the media and the production of formats and contents for communication to all the terminals that digital technology has made available.