BPER Banca is opening two new cultural centers in Italy: Palazzo Farinosi-Branconio in L'Aquila (September 2026) and Palazzo Barbantini-Koch in Ferrara (October 2026). These join the existing Palazzo San Carlo in Modena, home of La Galleria BPER. The L'Aquila palace, restored after the 2009 earthquake, will showcase works by Luca Giordano, Salvator Rosa, and Cola dell'Amatrice, while the Ferrara venue will feature Tiziano, Guercino, and De Pisis, with an inaugural exhibition on mortality in 19th- and early-20th-century Italian painting. The bank's 160-year-old art and archival collection, including 7,000 archival units, is being digitized in partnership with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
This expansion matters because it demonstrates how a major Italian banking group is leveraging its corporate art collection as a tool for social and educational growth, reinforcing local identity and community engagement. By restoring historic buildings and opening them to the public, BPER positions culture as a driver of civic responsibility and territorial development. The move also highlights the growing trend of corporate cultural philanthropy in Italy, where banks and foundations play a key role in preserving and sharing artistic heritage.