Collectors as Catalysts: Driving Art, Building Community, Shaping Change

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Artissima presents a panel discussion — co-curated with the Foundation — that brings together some of the most authoritative voices on the international scene to explore how the creation of collections and foundations can serve as effective tools for cultural transformation.

Drawing from diverse geographic and social perspectives, the speakers will offer a comprehensive and inclusive view of contemporary collecting, emphasizing how the growth of a collection can be a means to envision new futures. At a time when the role of the collector is increasingly evolving into that of a cultural and social catalyst, the panel invites reflection on key questions: What is the public responsibility of collecting today, and how can it shape contemporary art discourse? How does the relationship between collections and institutions evolve — balancing personal vision with the creation of new models of access, participation, and engagement, especially with younger generations?

The speakers are:
Marisa Chearavanont, Founder and President, Khao Yai Art Social Enterprise
Stefano Rabolli Pansera, Director, Bangkok Kunsthalle and Khao Yai Art Forest, Bangkok
Dakis Joannou, Collector and Founder, DESTE Foundation, Athens
James Keith Brown, Collector and President, New Museum, New York
Lauren Taschen, Collector, Los Angeles

A special thanks to MARNI

* the panel is in English