Adriano Olivetti: Matera and the Dream of a Company

An Industrial Utopia Speaking to the South

Within the calendar of Matera Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026, there is space for a major exhibition dedicated to Adriano Olivetti and his connection with the Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy). The exhibition, titled "Adriano Olivetti: Matera and the Dream of a Company," retraces the Ivrea entrepreneur's community vision, capable of integrating the State, civil society, culture, and business into a single project.

The Link with Matera

The relationship between Olivetti and Matera is not coincidental: in the 1950s, the entrepreneur and his "Movimento Comunità" (Community Movement) were central to the debate on the redevelopment of the Sassi (cave dwellings) and the creation of rural villages, during a crucial period for the city's history. The exhibition reinterprets that experience as a laboratory of ideas on the development of the South, fostering a dialogue between industrial culture and the territory.

Inside the "Contaminations" Section

The exhibition is part of the "Contaminations" section of the Matera 2026 programme, dedicated to cultural exchange and mixing as an active practice. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, as highlighted by Minister Alessandro Giuli, the exhibition presents Olivetti's legacy as a lens through which to understand the contemporary relationship between culture, innovation, and social cohesion.

An Event Throughout the Year

Open from March 20 to November 28, 2026, coinciding with the entire duration of the Mediterranean Capital's programme, the exhibition accompanies visitors and citizens throughout Matera's cultural season.