Arena di Verona, in five years over 9 million euro from Art Bonus
The foundation celebrates the new milestone of the '67 columns for the Arena di Verona' project. New season kicks off on 13 June: +12% in takings
by Giovanna Mancini
3' min read
3' min read
A place that is a symbol of Italian culture - and of that opera singing that has become a Unesco heritage site - but also a model of synergy between the public and private sectors, which demonstrates in practice the possibility of enhancing the sustainability of our country's artistic institutions, also by leveraging their strong ties with the territory.
The Fondazione Arena di Verona - on the eve of the new Opera Festival season that will open on 13 June with a new production of Giuseppe Verdi's 'Nabucco' - last night celebrated five years since the start of the '67 Colonne' fundraising project, launched in 2021 with the aim of strengthening the link between the cultural world and the economic fabric of the territory and that, since then, has raised over 9 million euro, of which over 2 million in the first five months of 2025.
"We have reached the five-year milestone and this is already a reason for celebration," says the superintendent of the Veronese foundation, Cecilia Gasdia. "But the most beautiful aspect of this experience is the great adhesion we have had over the years and continue to have, from companies, professional studios and private supporters in the area. The project has not lost appeal, on the contrary, it has been growing and, every year, there is a waiting list to participate and contribute to the valorisation and excellence of the Arena by private individuals, through the Art Bonus instrument.
So much so that the theatre's top management is considering the possibility of expanding and growing this project. In the first year, 1.5 million was raised, rising to 1.6 million in 2022, 2 million in 2023 and 2.1 million in 2024.
Among the first to join the initiative were Gianluca Rana, ceo of Pastificio Rana, and Sandro Veronesi, founder and president of Oniverse, together with the media partnership of the Athesis publishing group, joined by institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce, and many entrepreneurial realities, including the main partner UniCredit, as well as professional orders and category associations such as Confindustria Verona. The numerous sponsors and supporters include Agsm Aim, which supports Arena Young, the training project dedicated to students, children and young people. And Generali Italia, the Festival's family partner. As well as the support of BBC Veneta for the Teatro Filarmonico.
