Italian
The Ministry of Culture acquires the historic home-studio of Giacomo Balla in Rome: a Futurist treasure now part of the State Museum System.
ROME – As of today, Casa Balla is officially owned by the State. The Ministry of Culture has signed the deed of acquisition for the iconic home-studio of Giacomo Balla, located at via Oslavia 39B in Rome, where the master of Futurism lived and worked from 1929 until his death in 1958.
The signing took place in the presence of Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums, Clarissa Fonda, the notary, and Luigi La Rocca, Head of the Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The operation, carried out by the Directorate-General for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape with support from the Special Superintendency of Rome, is part of the 2022–2024 and 2023–2025 three-year investment plan. The total value of the acquisition amounts to 6.9 million euros: 6 million for artworks and furnishings, and 900 thousand for the property itself, including copyright rights.
With Casa Balla now part of the State’s cultural heritage, the National Museum System gains a truly extraordinary place: a creative laboratory where every object, piece of furniture, wall, and color reflects the Futurist vision of Balla and his daughters, Luce and Elica, who were also artists.
“This is a special day,” said Luigi La Rocca, “because the house where Balla lived until 1958 becomes a new national museum, dedicated to one of the great figures of Futurism and 20th-century art.”
Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums, echoed the sentiment:
“Casa Balla is a unique residence, where every detail tells the story of Giacomo Balla’s creative energy. Our mission will be to make it fully accessible, guiding all audiences through a key chapter of Italian art.”
With this acquisition, the State not only protects a site of exceptional historical and artistic value, but also returns to the public a place that embodies the innovative spirit of Futurism, destined to become a landmark for scholars, art lovers, and visitors from around the world.
