Centro Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (Center for Modern and Contemporary Art), La Spezia

The Center for Modern and Contemporary Art (CAMeC) is based in La Spezia, Italy. The structure permanently houses the works of the Premio del Golfo collection and the Cozzani and Battolini collections. In addition to these, other temporary exhibitions are also periodically organised. The Modern and Contemporary Art Center is located in Piazza C. Battisti, a few steps from the pedestrian area in the historic city centre. The building in which the museum is located dates back to the early 20th century ; it was first an elementary school and around 1920 it became the city court. During the bombings suffered by the city during the Second World War ( 1943 ), it was seriously destroyed. It was rebuilt and was the seat of the La Spezia Justice Department until 1998, the year in which the new Palace of Justice was inaugurated. The artistic director of CAMeC was also the critic and curator Bruno Corà. The collection consists of 1157 works donated by Giorgio and Ilda Cozzani to the Municipality of La Spezia in 1999. Among these works we can count around three hundred drawings and paintings, around eighty sculptures and many other graphics all relating to the various artistic aspects of the twentieth century. The collection derives from the donation made by Ferruccio and Anna Maria Battolini to the Municipality of La Spezia. The collection brings together the works linked to the national painting prize of the same name, organized starting in 1933 by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Fillia. After the war the event was resumed from 1949 to 1965 and, after a long interruption, has continued every two years since 2000.

The CAMeC, Modern and Contemporary Art Center, inaugurated in May 2004, was created to conserve and enhance the considerable artistic funds coming from the editions of the Premio del Golfo, created in 1933 by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Fillia, and from the Cozzani and Battolini donations. CAMeC's activity includes the rotating display of civic collections, the organization of temporary exhibitions, conferences and art therapy workshops. At CAMeC it is possible to celebrate children's birthdays in an original way by choosing a playful-creative workshop inspired by contemporary art and conducted by the Museum's educational operators.

The building dates back to 1879 and originally housed a girls' primary school, built in response to the demographic increase that accompanies the construction of the military arsenal in La Spezia. CAMeC, as we know it today, was born on 23 May 2004 to deliver to the city and host in an appropriate location the considerable artistic funds coming from the editions of the Gulf Prize and from the Cozzani and Battolini donations. The rotating display of the permanent collections is accompanied by the creation of exhibitions that document the different areas of current or historical contemporary production. ***PH***