Professor Sergio Brancato is the new president of the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts.

Sergio Brancato, professor of Sociology of Cultural Processes and Communication at Federico II University, is the new president of the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. Appointed by University and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini, he takes office from Tuesday, Sept. 16, for a three-year term.

A student of Alberto Abruzzese, his research has been investigating the relationships between art, society, media and the imaginary for many years. On these issues he has been a scientific consultant for institutions and companies such as the Italian Encyclopedia Institute "Treccani," Rai-Radiotelevisione Italiana, Mediaset. With the conception of the International Conference "Videocultures" (1988-1990) he was among the first Italian sociologists to study the digital turn. He is the author of numerous essays and volumes, also published abroad, including: Videocultures. Strategies of Electronic Languages (1988); Comics. A Guide to Comics in the Media System (1994-2000); Sociology of Cinema (2001); The City of Lights. Itineraries for a social history of cinema (2003); Post-seriality. For a sociology of TV-series (2011); The Imperium of Signs. Igort between Walter Benjamin and Walt Disney (2017); History and Theory of Seriality. The Twentieth Century from Mass Narratives to the Digital Turn (with Stefano Cristante and Emiliano Ilardi, 2024). A cultural journalist and columnist (Paese Sera, il manifesto, La Repubblica, Corto Maltese, Linus, Micromega), among others, he has written scripts for television serials (Un posto al sole and Agrodolce for RaiTre; Vivere for Canale5) and for comics (Il commissario Ricciardi and I bastardi di Pizzofalcone for Sergio Bonelli Editore).

"I thank Minister Anna Maria Bernini for the prestigious position she wanted to entrust me with, as well as President Rita Finzi, who held this position before me, Director Enrico Fornaroli, and the faculty and staff all of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna. I welcome this appointment with enthusiasm as it allows me to work with students on the major themes of art and the creative professions. Bologna is a place dear to me, full of great friendships and the center of an extraordinary cultural ferment. I will work in synergy with all the components of the Academy to contribute to the present and future of this historic institution," said Professor Brancato.

Enrico Fornaroli, director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, expressed deep appreciation for this appointment and said, "We are happy to welcome Professor Sergio Brancato as our new president, a figure of great value who will know how to guide us with vision and competence. At the same time, we express deep gratitude to outgoing President Rita Finzi for the work she has done with dedication and passion. We strongly believe in the continuity of the project started, certain that the future of the Academy will be built under the sign of coherence, dialogue and shared innovation."

President Rita Finzi, who concludes her three-year term on September 15, during her tenure closed the agreement with the State Property Office for the free use concession of 6 years for the historical body and 19 years for the modern bodies of the Theater and the Ala Irnerio, and gave support to the regulatory upgrades and renovations of the Guasto building, the Ala Irnerio and Villa Salina by negotiating directly with the Municipality of Castelmaggiore the terms of the free transfer of the premises. He also reached an agreement with the heirs of Professor Andrea Emiliani for the donation of his library in exchange for the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna's commitment to catalog his books and create a study center named after him. He oversaw the project to renovate the theater, obtaining a 10 million euro grant from the MUR. He oversaw the project to adapt the historic body to fire regulations, obtaining approval from the Fire Department. He initiated the ISO 9001 quality certification of the Bologna Academy, the first in Italy to be certified. Finally, it initiated a welfare policy by accrediting the Academy for rate concessions for students and employees.