The MAO – Museo d’Arte Orientale in Turin has launched an open call titled "We need your light," inviting the public to lend up to three lamps each for a large-scale collective installation. Participants can deliver their lamps on May 17-18, 2026, by booking a time slot via Eventbrite; the museum will collect the objects, rewire them for safety, and incorporate them into a site-specific artwork debuting during Turin's Art Week in October 2026. The museum also encourages lenders to share the story behind their lamp, which will be filmed and included in the exhibition.
This initiative transforms everyday private objects into public art, fostering direct community engagement with the museum. By borrowing rather than acquiring, the MAO creates a temporary, participatory artwork that emphasizes shared ownership and personal narrative, setting a model for inclusive, low-barrier collaboration between institutions and their audiences. It also highlights the museum's role as a platform for co-creation rather than a mere repository of objects.