Fondazione Passaré

Fondazione Passaré is an Italian cultural foundation dedicated to the promotion and development of contemporary art and, above all, "arte primaria" (primary art). It was established in 2007 in memory of Alessandro Passaré, a physician, patron and traveller who, from the 1950s onward, became a central figure in Milan's Brera art milieu — remembered as "the doctor of the artists." The foundation carries forward his passion by valorising his collections of modern and primary art. The foundation's mission is strictly cultural. It promotes research and cultural initiatives devoted to contemporary art and primary art, with a particular commitment to deepening knowledge of the cultures and artistic expressions of primary art, especially those of the African continent. It publishes works and catalogues that foster better understanding of African and modern art, and it designs projects aimed at developing awareness of and attention to the cultures of non-European peoples. Its collections are dispersed to public institutions: a core of 300 works of African art is held at the Museo delle culture (MUDEC) in Milan, while a number of contemporary art works are at the MA*GA museum in Gallarate. The foundation also runs the "Biblioteca Passaré" publishing series and promotes research, cultural initiatives and studies in contemporary and primary art. Through its YouTube channel it produces "Arte 101," a series of short interviews discussing the books of the Biblioteca Passaré series. Its catalogues and publications support the promotion and development of primary and contemporary art.

Fondazione Passaré was founded in 2007 with strictly cultural aims: to carry forward the passion of Alessandro Passaré by valorising his collections of modern art and primary art. Alessandro Passaré was a physician, patron and traveller who, in the fervent artistic and cultural climate of 1950s Milan, became a central figure in the Brera milieu, known as "the doctor of the artists." His dual collecting interests — modern art and primary art — shaped the foundation's identity. Since its establishment, the foundation has pursued research and cultural initiatives devoted to contemporary art and, above all, primary art. It has committed itself actively to a better understanding of the cultures and artistic expressions of primary art, particularly those of the African continent. It promotes publications that advance knowledge of African and modern art, and it designs projects intended to develop awareness of and attention to the cultures of non-European peoples. A defining feature of the foundation's work has been the placement of its collections in public institutions. A core of 300 works of African art is held at the Museo delle culture (MUDEC) in Milan, and a number of contemporary art works are at the MA*GA museum in Gallarate. The foundation also operates the Biblioteca Passaré publishing series and produces the Arte 101 video project on YouTube, featuring short interviews about the books in that series. Through catalogues and publications, it continues to support the promotion and development of primary and contemporary art.

• 2007

  Fondazione Passaré is established with cultural aims, in memory of Alessandro Passaré.

• A core of 300 works of African art from the collection is placed at the Museo delle culture (MUDEC) in Milan.

• Contemporary art works from the collection are placed at the MA*GA museum in Gallarate.

• The foundation launches the Biblioteca Passaré publishing series and the Arte 101 video project on YouTube.

A non-profit cultural foundation promoting contemporary and primary art, with a focus on African art and non-European cultures.

• Biblioteca Passaré book series

• Arte 101 video interviews

• Art publications and catalogues

1. 1Fondazione Passaré – Promozione e sviluppo dell'arte Primariafondazionepassare.com
2. 2Fondazione Passaréwikidata.org