Art has the power to transform spaces and the way we inhabit them, but more importantly, it can expand how we understand the world. For SDA Bocconi, this dimension is a natural extension of managerial education: an invitation to look at complexity with greater depth, to sharpen critical thinking and to view cultural practices as laboratories for interpreting the present. Today, artistic and cultural institutions play an increasingly central role in communities and local ecosystems. They generate social value, foster participation and contribute to the development of human capital. This makes their effective management all the more essential. The School’s Arts Management programs nurture this perspective by combining managerial expertise with cultural awareness, shaping professionals who understand the symbolic dimension of art and can translate it into sustainable planning, innovation and impact. 

It is within this vision that the Bocconi Art Gallery was established: a project that, over the years, has made contemporary art an integral part of community life at the School and the University. With the opening at the Rome campus, the gallery takes on a new form: not merely a geographic expansion, but a cultural evolution. Its aim is to engage with the artistic landscape of the capital and build a cultural hub capable of creating connections among students, managers and leading figures in contemporary art. 

Within this vision, the decision to present the works of Sidival Fila, Franciscan friar and internationally recognized artist, is a clear example of the intersection between art, society and the managerial world. His artistic practice – spiritual, conceptual and deeply rooted in culture’s civic role – has grown over the years into a unique model of social responsibility: the Sidival Fila Philanthropic Foundation, which supports children and young people in need through educational and social-justice projects across the Global South, transforming artistic practice into a concrete contribution to community well-being. 

This makes the Foundation a distinctive presence in the cultural and philanthropic landscape, a place where creativity and social impact converge. The opening event, paired with the presentation of the Foundation’s Annual Report produced in collaboration with SDA Bocconi, offered an opportunity to reflect on the educational and social potential of art and the role it can play in fostering more conscious, attentive and inclusive leadership. 

The event opened with remarks from Gimede Gigante, Director of SDA Bocconi’s Rome campus, who welcomed guests by noting that “tonight marks a beginning. Our new campus is still young and growing, but it is already shaping the School’s identity in the capital: for SDA Bocconi, it represents a bridge to the cultural and institutional heart of the country.” He went on to say that “its role is to build a living relationship with the city, an encounter between vision, management and social responsibility.” Opening the Bocconi Art Gallery in Rome, he added, reaffirms that “art is not mere decoration, but a language that nurtures awareness, sensitivity and critical thinking.” The works on display, he concluded, will make the campus “a vibrant place, capable of bringing together new competencies and multidisciplinary perspectives.” 

Next, Andrea Rurale, Director of the Intensive Program in Art Markets and Finance, highlighted how the School has “long been at the forefront of recognizing art as a driver of well-being for all.” Opening the gallery in Rome is “a natural step,” he noted, because the city is “one of the most vibrant centers of artistic production in Italy and an ideal setting in which to bring together art and managerial education.” Rurale also emphasized the value of the Sidival Fila Philanthropic Foundation, which “helps artists manage their work, seize opportunities and navigate the market. What we teach in our programs is put into practice by the Foundation each day: finding effective ways to generate value from art and transform creative work into a driver of socio-economic well-being.” 

Presenting the insights from the Foundation’s Annual Report, Piergiacomo Mion Dalle Carbonare, Director of the Master in Arts Management and Administration (MAMA), outlined the four dimensions through which art generates value: “social inclusion, educational function, economic impact and the ability to strengthen community bonds.” These dimensions clearly emerge from the Foundation’s work: “it shows how art can reduce inequality, activate new relationships and generate measurable economic returns.” To understand this, he stressed the importance of impact assessment: “It’s not enough to report what has been done; we must understand what we have been able to generate.” This, he added, requires appropriate tools, because “change does not happen quickly, nor is it always easy to measure.” Reliable assessment integrates quantitative data with qualitative insights to capture “both outcomes and the quality of the support provided.” Impact evaluation, he explained, is essential to understanding “the socio-economic return of the Foundation’s philanthropic activities” and documenting how its projects contribute to community well-being. “In short,” he concluded, “art and culture are not just what we do, they are what we generate.” 

Cristiano Grisogoni, Art Manager and member of the Board, analyzed the 2024 results of the Sidival Fila Philanthropic Foundation. Guided by its mission to unite art and philanthropy, the Foundation supported fourteen solidarity projects across ten countries last year, primarily in the Global South, doubling its charitable disbursements compared to 2023 and opening up new philanthropic perspectives that signal a growing commitment in the current year as well. 

The evening concluded with a conversation between Anna Bernardini, art historian and museum curator, and Sidival Fila, artist and President of the Foundation. After introducing the works on display, Fila shared his artistic perspective: “The starting point of my research is matter. Matter has its own intrinsic beauty because it carries the passage of time, the memory of how the world changes. The creative process is not about building something new, but revealing what already exists in a different way, bringing to light the emotions hidden in the reality that surrounds us every day. In this sense, I consider myself fortunate: I have found a way to give voice to the emotions I hold within me.” His relationship to his work reveals the deeper meaning of the Foundation’s mission: “The energy and feelings I pour into my works are returned to those who observe them. It becomes a way to share emotions and strengthen a sense of belonging to one community, one that includes all human beings. We must never lose touch with our humanity; we must remain grounded in our most authentic, responsible and collective dimension.” 

The opening of the new Rome gallery marked an important milestone for the School: the extension of a cultural project that is not only about exhibition, but also educational, civic and deeply connected to SDA Bocconi’s mission to create value and impact for the community. In this sense, art becomes a unique language for interpreting social transformation, reflecting on our responsibilities, and shaping new forms of participation. Hosting an artist like Sidival Fila, and highlighting the philanthropic commitment of his Foundation, reaffirms that managerial education, art, creativity and culture do not move along separate paths. They share the same aspiration to understand complexity and generate value for communities and territories.

SDA Bocconi School of Management