“Deposits and Heritage in Network”: Italy’s first museum storeroom network launched in Emilia‑Romagn

“Deposits and Heritage in Network” launched in Emilia‑Romagna

A regional museum network has been established in Emilia‑Romagna to improve storeroom management, preventive conservation and access to collections that are not on public display. The initiative brings together twelve museums and an association managing a state storeroom, supported by regional and national cultural bodies.

Aims and operational priorities

The network aims to make storerooms strategic resources for preservation and study. Main priorities include:

• Continuous training and mentoring for museum staff;
• Preventive conservation as the foundation for long‑term safeguarding;
• Shared standards for inventory, management and storeroom regulations;
• Promotion of stored heritage through communication, openings and educational activities.

Key results so far

The collaboration has produced workshops, working groups on risk analysis and emergency planning, and a draft storeroom regulation currently being trialled at several museums. The network has adopted a common charter and a two‑year strategic plan to coordinate activities.

Open Storerooms: visit programme

From March to May a series of special openings, called “Open Storerooms”, will allow the public to visit normally closed spaces to learn about conservation, reinstallation projects and restoration case studies. All visits require prior reservation.

• 7 March – Museum of Rural Civilization, Villa Smeraldi (Bentivoglio, BO): textile collections and dowry traditions;
• 27 March – Casa Cervi Museum (Gattatico, RE): opening tied to the family memory anniversary;
• 29 March and 9 May – Civic Museum of Modena: sessions focused on reinstallation and conservation work;
• 16 May – Openings at the Civic Museum of the Cappuccine (Bagnacavallo, RA), the Civic Art Gallery “Il Guercino” (Cento, FE), the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna and the Archaeological Museum of Cesena (the latter during the European Night of Museums);
• 23 May – Cathedral and Diocesan Museum (Fidenza, PR);
• 24 May – Synagogue and Jewish Museum “Fausto Levi” (Soragna, PR);
• 31 May – Civic Museums of Reggio Emilia: visit‑workshop on ethnographic objects in storage.

How to take part

Visits are by reservation. For schedules, booking procedures and accessibility information, check the official channels of the participating museums.

Why this matters: the network strengthens professional cooperation, raises conservation standards and brings greater visibility to the extensive portion of collections usually kept out of view.