OPEN: A new civic space for art and science

7 May – 12 October 2026

OPEN 2027 – coming soon

The second edition of OPEN is in preparation and should open in May 2027. More information soon.

Officine d’Orizzonti

Until December 2026, secondary school students from Florence and Tuscany take part in workshops on European citizenship at Palazzo Buontalenti, led by the Florence School of Transnational Governance with the support of Fondazione CR Firenze.

Visit the garden

The works by Leone Contini and Riccardo Previdi remain in the San Marco garden and can be visited on request.

Press coverage

Read what the press wrote about OPEN.

With thanks

OPEN was a shared effort. We would like to thank the curators Sergio Risaliti and Stefania Rispoli (Museo Novecento), Johanna Gautier-Morin for the scientific concept, and the artists Agnieszka Polska, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Eglė Budvytytė, Elena Mazzi, Leone Contini, Riccardo Previdi and Pierre Chastel. Our thanks also go to the students of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, the art historians of MUS.E, the volunteers of FAI Delegazione di Firenze, Alberto Tofani for the technical equipment and coordination, and all EUI colleagues involved.

OPEN was realised with the support of Agenzia del Demanio, Fondazione CR Firenze, MUS.E, FAI Delegazione di Firenze, Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze and Galleria Continua, under the patronage of Regione Toscana and Comune di Firenze, and with all our partners

Palazzo Buontalenti: Past, present, and future

With the restoration of a first wing by the Agenzia del Demanio (State Property Agency), Palazzo Buontalenti returns a site of great historical value to the city. The complex includes the historic San Marco garden, where a young Michelangelo once studied, and the Renaissance rooms of Francesco I de’ Medici’s former laboratory. Today it is home to the EUI’s Florence School of Transnational Governance and is becoming an international campus and an open place for knowledge, creativity and civic life.

Read more

Thank you for making OPEN a shared space

From 7 May to 12 October 2026, OPEN welcomed almost 7,000 people of 94 nationalities to Palazzo Buontalenti, with only 29 public openings. Conceived for the EUI's 50th anniversary, it brought contemporary art and research together. On 8 May, Italian President Sergio Mattarella visited OPEN.

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Read the report on the pilot edition

Support OPEN 2027

As a non-profit organisation, the EUI offers free access to OPEN. Your contribution could help prepare the next edition and keep Palazzo Buontalenti open to the public.

Donate now