"The UniCredit Art Collection, one of the largest corporate collections in Europe, has an important symbolic value. It reflects our Group's shared European identity and heritage. At UniCredit, we will continue to spread artistic knowledge and experience as a factor for cultural and social growth and development, enhancing the value of our UniCredit Art Collection through a wider public access."
Andrea Orcel, Group CEO, UniCredit
UniCredit has announced its strategy to make arts accessible for all, drawing on the bank's long tradition of supporting arts and culture.
This strategy reaffirms the bank's commitment to cultural partnerships, educational programmes, and community projects which enable greater access to the arts and foster social development.
One of the key initiatives announced today is the launch of the new UniCredit Art Collection website, which will for the first time open the bank's up to the world. This is one of Europe's largest corporate art collections and includes over 200 artworks and over 100 artists from our collections in Austria, Germany, and Italy, including Giacomo Balla, Georg Baselitz, Pizzi Cannella, Antonio Donghi, Dan Flavin, Jakob Gasteiger, Hans Hartung, Axel Hütte, Cornelius Völker and Walter Pichler.
The collection was built through a passion for art shared by Italy, Austria and Germany, whose assets form most of the collection, but it has gradually grown to include countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It spans a wide range of periods, from old masters to a modern international dimension with artworks from the second half of the 20th century, with strong territorial ties closely linked to the historical roots of each geographic area that UniCredit serves.
Digital is a core part of UniCredit's transformation journey, and this new platform leverages the bank's digital infrastructure to share these masterpieces with a wider audience and educate people about the bank's artistic heritage. This online gallery also includes an educational section to educate and inspire children and adults to learn about our artists and their artworks.
This is alongside a programme of exhibitions curated by leading figures, thematic collections, artist interviews, and exhibition and museum loan updates. UniCredit's artworks are displayed in offices, branches and museums worldwide, and in the first half of 2023, UniCredit managed 6 short-term loans with 6 different institutions across the country, involving 26 works of art. It also has a number of sponsorship agreements with high-profile artistic institutions, including the Arena di Verona, Filarmonica della Scala in Milan and the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
To celebrate the launch of this strategy and digitalisation of its art collection, UniCredit has brought together a selection of artworks for a launch exhibition: Inversamente, curated by former Director of MAXXI 2016-2023 (National Museum of 21st Century Art) Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, travels from art in the early 1960s to the beginning of the new millennium, juxtaposing works by some of the major protagonists of the modern and contemporary art scene, such as Hans Hartung, Mario Schifano, Gerhard Richter and Shirin Neshat.
"UniCredit's new initiative to share its extensive collection of artworks reflects a core mission to support local communities, furthering arts education and championing artists and artistic institutions across the world. As one of Europe's largest corporate collections, UniCredit is in a unique position to unlock a treasure trove of masterpieces for the general public to explore and enjoy."
Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, Curator
UniCredit recognises the connection between arts and culture and our social and economic progress. This strategy is a reflection of this and the bank's dedication to supporting communities, advancing education and fostering social inclusion.
This is a core pillar of the UniCredit Unlocked strategic plan which was launched in 2021 and has guided the bank's transformation since.
Arts and arts education foster belonging, shared knowledge and common dialogue and today's renewed committment and accompanying digital art platform is a milestone in the bank's mission to leverage its artistic heritage and empower communities to progress.
Milan, November 8, 2023
Website: www.unicreditartcollection.eu
Media Relations: mediarelations@unicredit.eu
Info/Contact: unicreditartcollection@unicredit.eu