This year once again, the “Fiamma Lanzara” Library took part in Archivissima, the festival dedicated to the enhancement and dissemination of archival heritage, participating in the traditional Night of the Archives with a special project devoted to the figure of Fiamma Lanzara, President of Accademia Costume & Moda from 2001 to 2020.
For the 2026 edition of the festival, centred around the theme “What Is Not There”, the Historical Archive of the Library presented an original exhibition entitled “Fiamma Lanzara: A Presidency to Rediscover”, offering visitors the opportunity to explore a fundamental – yet in many respects still little-known – chapter in the history of the Accademia.
The initiative stems from the significant project of reorganisation, cataloguing and preservation of the Historical Archive, curated by Claudia Pracanica, Archivist of the Library.
This work has brought to light documents, photographs, correspondence and previously unseen materials capable of narrating Fiamma Lanzara’s long journey at the helm of the Accademia.
Within the Fiamma Lanzara Library, coordinated by Viviana Damiano, visitors had the opportunity to revisit significant moments from Fiamma’s Presidency. Through a carefully curated selection of archival materials, they were able to gain deeper insight into her cultural vision, her contribution to the development of the institution, and the central role she played in strengthening ACM’s identity both nationally and internationally.
The public’s participation once again confirmed how the enhancement of archival heritage can become an important opportunity for encounter, dialogue and shared experiences. Indeed, the stories preserved within archives acquire even greater meaning when they are returned to the community, generating new reflections on both the past and the present. From this perspective, participants themselves become custodians of historical memory, contributing to its preservation over time.
Archivissima 2026 proved to be a particularly meaningful experience for the “Fiamma Lanzara” Library, which had the pleasure of welcoming numerous visitors, scholars, alumni and enthusiasts, united by their curiosity and their desire to rediscover a figure who profoundly shaped the history of the Accademia.
Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who chose to spend time with us during the Night of the Archives, participating with enthusiasm and genuine interest in this journey of rediscovery.
