Jul 25, 2025 / 9:23AM
Museum Meetings consist of a series of conversations dedicated to various aspects of art and museums, including art history, photography, anthropology, collecting, curation, techniques and media, conservation, and the role of museums and archives in society today. It originates in the Acton Collection at Villa La Pietra and expands to other art spaces in Florence and Italy. It is designed to attract a multidisciplinary group of students, not just those studying art or art history. All the meetings are conceived as discussions and envisage an active participation. Francesca Baldry, Collection Manager at Villa La Pietra, organizes the meetings and welcomes suggestions from students.
Thursday, September 4, at 6:00 PM (Limonaia,- NYU Students-only)
The Estate and Collections of Villa La Pietra: History, Practices, and Engagement
With an introduction to Museum Meetings and Terra Firma programs by Francesca Baldry, Villa La Pietra Collection Manager, and Nick Dakin-Elliot, La Pietra Horticultural Associate.
Light campus-grown refreshments included
In collaboration with Terra Firma.
Wednesday, September 10, at 1:30 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
From a Family Collection to a House Museum
Tour and discussion, followed by a light lunch.
Wednesday, September 17, at 1:30 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
From Eton to Oxford. Harold Acton in the 1920s
Tour and discussion, followed by a light lunch.
Monday, September 22, at 6:00 PM (Villa Sassetti)
Presentazione del restauro delle facciate di Villa La Pietra
Interventi di: Antonella Ranaldi, Soprintendente Archeologia, Belle arti e Paesaggio per la città metropolitana di Firenze e la provincia di Prato, e Sandra Margarolo e Gianni Morini, Architetti del restauro.
Conferenza in italiano
Tuesday, October 7, 1:30 PM (Villa La Pietra)
Photography in the Acton Family and NYU Florence Digitization Project
Visit to the Villa La Pietra Photo Archive: a conversation with Pamela Ferrari, Digital Imaging Project Manager – Centrica srl.
Wednesday, October 29, 6:00 PM (Villa Sassetti)
Allen Ginsberg and Beato Angelico’s “Gold Blast of Light”
Stevan Weine, University of Illinois Chicago, with an introduction by Carl Brandon Strehlke, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Thursday, October 30, 6:00 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
Halloween Tour of La Pietra House Museum and Collection
In collaboration with OSL.
Saturday, November 8, All day trip (NYU Students-only)
Arezzo
Visit to the ‘Umberto Brunelleschi’ exhibition and to the frescoes by Piero della Francesca.
In collaboration with the Office of Student Life.
Monday, November 10, 12:00 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
Ongoing Conservation Activities at Villa La Pietra
Tour and discussion, followed by a light lunch.
Wednesday, November 19, 13:15 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
Florence in Global Asia
A conversation with Research Assistant Ileana Amadei.discussion on her current project, followed by a light lunch.
Friday, November 21, AM, time tbc (Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, NYU Students-only)
Visit to the ‘Beato Angelico’ Exhibition
With Francesca Baldry.
Wednesday, November 26, 1:30 PM (Villa La Pietra, NYU Students-only)
Workshop on Performance in the Acton Collection
Followed by a light lunch.