A new open call for artists and architects under 35 has been launched in Rome, inviting proposals for a public artwork in dialogue with the iconic Gazometro (gasometer) in the Ostiense district. The initiative is promoted by Spazio Taverna in collaboration with Eni and ROAD – Rome Advanced District, and was announced on May 21 during the event "ON THE ROAD – Distretti di Innovazione." Participants are asked to design a monument, pavilion, or installation that engages with the former industrial complex, now a creative hub hosting the cultural program Arte al Gazometro since 2024. A jury including Marco Bassan, Ludovico Pratesi, Mattia Voltaggio, Claudio Quaternato, and Lorenza Baroncelli will select the winner, who will receive a €3,000 prize; the ten finalists will be published on Artribune and gain access to a Masterclass at the School of Vision. Submissions are open from May 21 to July 31, 2026, with results announced in September.
This call matters because it exemplifies a growing model of collaboration between corporate entities, cultural institutions, and emerging creative talent, using art as a tool to interpret and shape urban transformation. By targeting young practitioners and situating the project in a historically industrial site now repurposed for innovation and sustainability, the initiative highlights how contemporary art can foster dialogue between heritage, technology, and community development. It also reflects broader trends in European cities where former industrial zones are being reimagined as cultural districts, and where public-private partnerships are increasingly driving public art commissioning.