Cristina Acidini’s resignation from her position as Superintendent of the Polo Museale Fiorentino was made public yesterday, September 22, amidst news that she and Antonio Paolucci, who held the position previously and is currently Director of the Vatican Museums, are under investigation for abuse of office. About the investigation, at a press conference today, Acidini refused to comment, but made clear that her resignation was tendered September 5, and is connected to the reorganization of state museums announced earlier this summer.
Paolucci and Acidini are under investigation by the Guardia della Finanza for assigning insurance policies to Axa-art without following the EU-mandated procedure of public tender for contracts over a certain limit. Acidini is also involved in a second investigation through the Corte dei Conti for having waived usage fees for public museums like the Boboli Gardens on the occasion of free concerts offered by the Cultural Association Multipromo between 2004 and 2011. Neither situation has resulted in personal gain: Acidini stated to the press that ‘I have always and only acted for the greater good.’
Acidini’s resignation was submitted to the Minister of Arts (Mibact) earlier this month in light of the new structure of state museums, in which a ‘supermanager’ would be put at the head of the most important galleries, including Florence’s Uffizi, Bargello and Accademia (see article from July 18: Revolution at the Museum). Although not forced to give up her job until the new structure is put into place (due by 2015, but still only on paper), Acidini says she feels there is not room for a figure like herself in the new organization, and so she is making room for the transformation that must take place. After more than 38 years of service, she has opted for early retirement, and mentioned her desire to become a grandmother – though nature seems not to grant this wish. Asked what she would do ‘when she grows up’ she says she will continue to be an art historian, a job one does 24-7, for every painting, every church, opens up new possibilities. As a new management structure has not yet been determined, to the question of if she or someone else would take on an interim position at the helm she responded that she was open to collaboration, or ‘the role might be assigned to another person… who I would not envy.’
