The HangarBicocca Foundation (HB), created in 2008, is a non-profit, private-law organization. The institution originated from the decision to open a contemporary art organization in a vast (15,000 m2) industrial factory formerly owned by Gruppo Ansaldo, previously used to manufacture electric train motor bobbins. The first use of the new building was taken by challenging internationally renowned artists to produce site-specific projects in the highly evocative and visually powerful space. Since Anselm Kiefer’s first project of this kind, The Seven Heavenly Palaces, 2004 (now a permanent installation), artists such as Mark Wallinger and Marina Abramovic have also undertaken the project.

In June 2010 HB, reopened its exhibition spaces after the completion of a prolonged refurbishment plan. Two new facilities were opened to the public: ABOOK HANGARBICOCCA (the bookshop), managed by Fabio Castelli, and the HB Bistrot, both of which remain open and accessible outside regular gallery hours.

HangarBicocca’s reopening was inaugurated by an exhibition of five artists under the artistic direction of Chiara Bertola: three of these artists are part of the permanent collection, Anselm Kiefer’s now permanent installation, The Seven Heavenly Palaces, Fausto Melotti’s, La sequenza and Stefano Boccalini’s, Melting Pot 3.0; while Christian Boltanski’s Personnes, and Carlos Casas’s End were exhibited on a temporary basis.

The HangarBicocca Foundation is a dynamic space for the production, documentation, exhibition and promotion of contemporary art. The Foundation’s mission is to explore and experiment with the multidisciplinary elements that link all forms of visual and performing arts, and other fields of knowledge. In keeping with its aim of becoming an international center for contemporary art throughout the world, HB has continually engaged with artists and curators of international standing, in Italy and beyond. It has welcomed established figures and young artists who are ready to rise to the challenge of the unique, daunting spaces that characterize HangarBicocca.

HangarBicocca’s exhibitions and events strive to continue a consistent focus on research, experimentation and the desire to create site-specific projects. Since 2004, HangarBicocca has presented both monographic and group exhibitions, some in collaboration with other public or private bodies, that have met with the favour of large numbers of visitors, and those of the contemporary art community.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

Anselm Kiefer, “The Seven Heavenly Palaces”, 2004.

Marina Abramovic, “Balkan Epic”, 2006.

“Not afraid of the Dark”, Kutlug Ataman, Jenny Holzer, William Kentridge, Fabio Mauri, Santiago Sierra, 2007.

Lucy + Jorge Orta, “Antarctica”, 2008.

Anthony McCall, “Breath [the vertical works]“, 2009.

Alfredo Jaar, “It is difficult”, 2009.

In addition to contemporary art exhibitions, HangarBicocca presents music, dance, theatre performances.

In line with the aims of the Foundation, HangarBicocca has created an ambitious educational project called HB-Edu, reached and contacted 1700 schools throughout Italy.

HangarBicocca promotes and supports the educational department HangarBicocca Edu, along with the project Educating with art. These programs are dedicated to all students, from the youngest to high school scholars and involve students from different universities and teachers from all schools. The project was developed in collaboration with Elena Ciresola, an expert in art education, and Valeria Cantoni, an expert on training with art, both co-founders of the Association Art for Business.

The course gathers the traditional approach of art education with a methodology oriented to use contemporary art as a lever to increase the learning of multi-disciplinary matters, both in the humanities and sciences, from kindergarten to high school.

HangarBicocca Edu began as a innovative laboratory of ideas, experiences and different approaches to art, with an interest not only in HB’s exhibitions, but in educational and cultural explorations. Each year the project is characterized by different strategic choices to enhance the stable educational department within the Foundation HangarBicocca.

HangarBicocca has a total space of 15,000 m2.