words by Elizabeth Ganley-Roper
Claudia Ferrazzi, 34 years old and the mother of two young children, decided to leave Italy and go abroad to fulfil her dreams. Born in Bergamo, Ferrazzi first moved to Brussels, where she completed a master’s and gained work experience. She later moved to Paris, where she now lives and works in the third most important position at the Louvre, as the Assistant Managing Director.
Ferrazzi decided to go abroad at a young age because she knew there would be more opportunities for her outside of Italy, a country in which youth struggle to succeed. However, she still views her native country in a positive and hopeful light and Bergamo as her home. In an interview with the local paper L’Eco di Bergamo, she stated: “I only tried to make my aspirations come true elsewhere because in my country the steps would have been undoubtedly slower. But I don’t rule out that one day I could put to use in Italy what I’ve learned outside. Even if I lived abroad for 10 years already, Italy is still part of daily life; I always read Italian newspapers”.
Clearly fond of her compatriots, Ferrazzi is proud that the new Islamic art wing of the Louvre is being built by Italian architect Mario Bellini, that this coming March the museum will host a special exhibition dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci, La Sainte Anne, l'ultime chef-d'œuvre de Léonard de Vinc, and that next year, in 2013, they have aready planned a special event dedicated to Michelangelo Pistoletto.
Many of her colleagues are of Italian origins as well, including Salvatore Settis, the President of the Scientific Committee; Antonio Fabro, in charge of the ticket offices; Federica Mancini, from the Graphic Arts Department; Daniela Miccolis, from Supervision; and lastly, Monica Preti, the Auditorium (Art History and Museography) programming manager.
