In 2023, museums experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity

The museum phenomenon is reaching new heights! The Louvre, the most visited museum globally, saw a remarkable 14% increase in visitors, totaling 8.9 million in 2023 compared to 2022. In Italy, mid-December figures indicated that the Uffizi Galleries were approaching 5 million visitors, generating over 60 million in revenue – a staggering 70% increase from 2022's 35 million, as reported on their website.

This upward trend in recent years is undoubtedly linked to the museum's renewal as an institution, with a substantial acknowledgment of women's contributions in managerial and directorial roles who have been active for long in the cultural heritage sector. Maurizio Luvizone, a cultural foundation manager and educator in several universities, highlights this trend in his book published by Scheiwiller entitled "Sguardi femminili sul museo," where he interviews 15 prestigious female museum directors from Italy and around the world, highlighting their contribution to this transformation.

The book covers a global spectrum, featuring figures such as Frances Morris, former director of the Tate Modern in London; Andrea Bayer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; Olga Sviblova from Moscow's MANN; and Line Clausen Pedersen from the National Galleries of Scotland. Italian institutions, holding 70% of all existing artistic treasures, include profiles of Alfonsina Russo from the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Giovanna Melandri associated with MAXXI, the renowned Gabriella Belli who conceived the Mart, and Francesca Lavazza, an entrepreneur active in the museum world.

These narratives encompass public, private, foundational, and entrepreneurial aspects, portraying diverse women who share common traits such as cross-cutting leadership. They envision the museum as a vibrant space for engaging conversations, fostering well-being, connecting with communities, promoting inclusion, sparking inquiries, and, as emphasized by Luvizone, women aspiring to a museum primarily focused on providing happiness for many: "A place where, rather than celebrating the genius of a few, it caters to the happiness of many."

This sector's importance is underscored by the 2023 Symbola report, revealing that cultural industries in Italy represent €95.5 billion, displaying consistent growth since 2019. Luvizone sees this as a clear confirmation that culture acts as a powerful economic engine, generating €1.8 for every euro produced by cultural and creative activities, totaling €176.4 billion. Luvizone explains to Luxury Tribune the philosophy emerging from his 15 interviews, shedding light on the new concept of the museum as a pleasurable space for the masses. "There is a trend, a favorable wind changing the way we approach the museum, in all its forms and dimensions, across all latitudes of the world," states Luvizone. "It's a means to preserve and disseminate beauty, but also to bring together research and innovation, connect ancient and very recent knowledge. In all of this, I wondered about the role of women, and I am convinced that the role of women is central, a fundamental added value."