Liceo Bafile (L’Aquila): a contemporary art collection born from

A collection born from reconstruction

The Liceo Bafile in L’Aquila preserves a permanent contemporary art collection of roughly 60 site-specific works produced over the last fifteen years. The initiative began as a cultural response to the 2009 earthquake, aiming to use art as a tool for local recovery and community rebuilding.

A shared laboratory between artists and students

Conceived and coordinated by Prof. Licia Galizia, the project involved numerous Italian artists who developed site-specific interventions for the school’s spaces. Activities took place as educational workshops: students joined the design and production phases, turning the school into an active space for artistic practice and dialogue.

Themes and works

The works address themes of reconstruction, memory and rebirth. Many projects are designed to interact with corridors, classrooms and communal areas, strengthening the link between place and artwork. Recent developments include:

• 2023 – permanent installation of 50 posters created by 50 artists for a collective performance against gender-based violence, displayed along the third floor;
• 2026 – launch of a new phase adding seven original installations created in workshops with students.

Artists participating in the new phase

• Elena Bellantoni
• Marco Brandizzi
• Claudio Cantelmi
• Alberto Di Fabio
• Veronica Montanino
• Gino Sabatini Odoardi
• Marco Nereo Rotelli

Partnerships and cultural impact

The project developed institutional collaborations with the Accademia di Belle Arti of L’Aquila (Department of Art Education and Restoration School), the GSSI and local research centers. These partnerships have reinforced the educational and preservational dimensions of the initiative, linking artistic training to community engagement.

Visiting information

The collection is housed within the school’s premises and, on selected occasions, visits have been led by students who explain the projects and their meanings. For details about access, guided tours or public events, contact the school or local cultural organizations.