GAMeC, Bergamo’s cultural centre of excellence

Culture I più letti

14 August 2024

The GAMeC (Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea – Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art) in Bergamo is an important cultural centre located in the heart of the city. It was founded in 1991, as a joint initiative of two partners who had always believed in the relationship between the world of art and business: the Municipality of Bergamo and Tenaris Dalmine.

The museum hosts an extensive collection of both modern and contemporary art, offering visitors an immersive and diversified artistic experience. Exhibitions range from installations and sculptures to paintings and multimedia artworks, including both emerging artists and internationally renowned personalities. The GAMeC is a dynamic place that promotes encounters between different art forms, stimulating a dialogue between past and present.

Lorenzo Giusti is the director of the GAMeC in Bergamo. He is a well-known personality in the Italian art scene, famous for his innovative vision and his commitment to the promotion of contemporary art. During his time as director, the museum has hosted several major exhibitions and strengthened its reputation as a cultural centre of excellence.

GAMeC Impermanente Collection – Image taken from www.gamec.it

What to see in Gamec: exhibitions throughout the year and artworks on show

Every year, the GAMeC organises a series of temporary exhibitions covering a broad spectrum of themes and artistic styles, which from 2020 to 2023 welcomed around 390,000 visitors.

These exhibitions present artworks by world famous contemporary artists as well as by emerging talents, exploring current and innovative themes with the ambition to become a local museum in the world, but always with a focus on innovation and sustainability.

Alongside these temporary exhibitions, the museum hosts a permanent collection that includes masterpieces by artists such as:

Alberto Burri,
Lucio Fontana,
Giacomo Balla.

The exhibitions also change regularly, thus ensuring that the programme is always fresh and stimulating and, in accordance with the initiative of the new Board President Simona Bonaldi, enhancing the creativity and entrepreneurial skills of the region, using local materials as well, so that the language of art can become a cultural exchange, initiating new dialogues and opportunities.

Leap into the void

‘Leap into the Void’ is one of the most iconic installations hosted by GAMeC, inspired by the artworks of Yves Klein. This project invites visitors to reflect on the notion of void and on the perception of space.

By using different artistic techniques, the installation creates an immersive and engaging experience, stimulating a deep reflection on the concept of absence and presence. This installation has received a great deal of attention, as it has been able to transform the museum space into a place of exploration and introspection.

GAMeC – Leap Into the Void – Image taken from www.gamec.it

Ali Cherri

Ali Cherri is a contemporary artist of Lebanese origin, and his artworks were on show at GAMeC during one of its temporary exhibitions. Cherri is known for his artworks that explore themes of identity, memory and cultural heritage through a variety of media, including videos, sculptures and installations.

His artworks offered visitors a profound and touching look at contemporary social and political issues, thus further enriching the museum’s already diversified artistic offer.

GAMeC Club

The GAMeC Club is a museum initiative offering its members a range of exclusive benefits, including priority access to exhibitions, invitations to special events, discounts on tickets and in museum shops.

The club promotes a strong sense of community among art enthusiasts, and it supports the museum activities through the active engagement and participation of its members. Joining the Club means supporting culture and having the opportunity to experience the museum from a unique and special perspective.

GAMeC – Thinking Like a Mountain – Image taken from www.gamec.it

Tickets – prices and how to get them

Tickets for the GAMeC can be purchased directly at the museum or online via the official website. The ticket price depends on the exhibitions on show and on the category of visitors.

Usually, the price for general admission is around EUR 10, with reductions for students, people over 65 and groups.

There are also combined tickets available to visit other cultural institutions and centres in Bergamo. We recommend checking rates and booking in advance in order to avoid long waits.

Opening Times

The GAMeC is open to the public all year round, with opening times that may vary according to the season.

Generally, during the summer period, the museum is open:

on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm,
on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm,
closed on Tuesday.

It is also important to remember that the ticket office closes at 6 pm. During the winter period, opening times may be reduced.

GAMeC For School – Image taken from www.gamec.it

How to reach GAMeC

The GAMeC is located in Via San Tomaso, 53 in Bergamo. It is in the historic centre, making it easily accessible for both residents and tourists.

By car:
- From Milan: Take the A4 highway towards Venice and take the Bergamo exit. Follow the directions to the city centre and then to the museum.
- Parking: There are several parking options near the museum, but they are all subject to a fee. The closest is definitely the Palasport Park in Via Pitentino 8. Another option is the Primax SRL car park in Via Verdi 23c, but it is more distant and inconvenient. One last option is to go near Piazzale Enrico Tiraboschi where, with a bit of luck, it is possible to find some disc-parking options. The first recommendation is always to go to the Palasport Park.
By train:
- From Bergamo train station: The GAMeC is just a 25/30-minute walk from the station. Leaving the station, walk towards Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, continue to Porta Nuova, take Via Camozzi and Cesare Battisti and follow the directions for the museum.
- Alternatively, you can take bus no. 1 from the station and get off at the ‘Porta Nuova’ bus stop, then walk about 20 minutes to get to the museum.
By bus:
- Several city bus lines connect different parts of the city to the GAMeC. The main lines include bus numbers 1, 3 and 6. We recommend getting off at the ‘Porta Nuova’ bus stop and then following the signs to get to the museum.
On foot:
- From the centre of Città Alta (Piazza Vecchia): The museum can easily be reached on foot in about 20-25 minutes. Follow Via Gombito and then Via San Tomaso until you reach the museum.
By bike:
- Bergamo has several cycle lanes that make it easy to reach the GAMeC by bike. Furthermore, the museum is equipped with dedicated bike racks where visitors can park their bikes safely.

Using a Map

It is always useful to check a map or an online navigation service to find the quickest and most convenient itinerary based on your starting point.

The museum’s official website provides further information, and it may be helpful while planning your visit.

A new location by 2026

By March 2026 there will be an important change, because the GAMeC, which is currently located in Via San Tomaso 53, in the spaces that used to be the ancient Santa Maria del Paradiso monastery, will permanently move its headquarters to the completely redeveloped space that used to be the old Palazzetto dello Sport, almost tripling its space from the current 2200 square metres to around 6000.

This massive redevelopment work, for a total of EUR 18 million (6 of which are financed by the NRRP) is now under rapid implementation and will have to be completed by March 2026 to avoid losing the funds.

The design by C+S Studio is really beautiful and ambitious – a large ‘lantern’ housing part of the exhibition and many other interior spaces that are obviously functional to the museum, as well as a bar, a restaurant and a bookshop.

We just have to wait for the opening in 2026, which is expected to be a really exciting one, probably with an exhibition or a gathering of several shows by different artists – one that the people of Bergamo will not forget!