Based on an idea by Cristiano Leone, curated by Michela Eremita and Chiara Valdambrini, Out of the Box is a curatorial experiment that invites the public over three distinct events, from February to December 2025, to explore the heritage of the museum complex with fresh eyes and to rediscover the artworks as living presences, capable of generating new interpretations across the millennia-old time and space of Santa Maria della Scala. By liberating masterpieces from the storerooms and overturning established perspectives thanks to an internal scientific and curatorial committee, unusual juxtapositions will be proposed, with the aim of opening up new opportunities for reflection. The event focuses on the dialogue between past and present, exploring unprecedented connections between works from the historical collection and contemporary art, through the works of Domenico (Mimmo) Paladino, Alfredo Jarr, and Olivo Barbieri.
THE EVENTS
From February 28 to 10 October 2025
Domenico (Mimmo) Paladino, Testa
meets
Bartolomeo Bulgarini, Virgin and Saint John Mourning, cross ends
Opening
Friday, February 28, 2025 | 12:00 pm
Cappella del Manto
From November 13, 2025 to January 21, 2026
Olivo Barbieri, Siena 2002
meets
The View of the Duomo
Opening
November 13, 2025
Cappella del Manto
Alfredo Jaar, Newsweek
meets
An Etruscan terracotta urn
Locations
Others Events
- guided tour
- 13 Jan 2026/12 May 2026
- Initiative19 Dec 2025/19 Dec 2025
- Inauguration
Vecchietta at Santa Maria della Scala. A new vision for the museum complex
Just over six hundred years after the birth of Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta (Siena, 1410–1480), the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex has decided to reorganize some of its rooms, starting from the artist who left the deepest mark on its history.
Presentation of the book "Creative Middle Ages. Innovating, inventing, experimenting in Italy from the 10th to the 14th century"
18 Dec 2025/18 Dec 2025The series Incontri alla Scala returns to the Museum: on Thursday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m., in the Sala Sant’Ansano, the book Medioevo che crea. Innovare, inventare, sperimentare nell’Italia dei secoli X-XIV. will be presented.
- Initiative
Sunday at Santa Maria della Scala
Every first Sunday of the month, Santa Maria della Scala opens its doors to the public free of charge. An opportunity to visit the museum complex and the National Archaeological Museum.
- Exhibition
"Path to the Sky", Jacob Hashimoto's installation open to visitors until January 6
1 Oct 2025/6 Jan 2026The site-specific installation Path to the sky by artist Jacob Hashimoto will be on display until January 6, created for the eponymous exhibition inaugurated last May at the museum.
- conference
Archaeological Museum and Surroundings. Personalities Compared: Fabio Bargagli Petrucci and Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli
11 Dec 2025/11 Dec 2025On Thursday, December 11, 2025, in the Sant'Ansano hall, the conference "Archaeological Museum and Surroundings. Personalities in Comparison: Fabio Bargagli Petrucci and Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli" will be held.
- Xenos. Festival di performance
Xenos. Performance Festival
13 Nov 2025/13 Nov 2025From November 13 to 16, the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala presents the second edition of Xenos. Festival of performance.
- Xenos. Festival di performance
Xenos. Performance Festival - November 15 Program
15 Nov 2025/15 Nov 2025From November 13 to 16, the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala presents the second edition of Xenos. Festival di performance.
