In Italy, the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo hosted a special event allowing visitors to experience a public cultural space together with their dogs.
The Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, based in Turin, organized a dedicated event for visitors who wished to tour an exhibition alongside their dogs. Titled OccuBAUsandretto, the event attracted significant interest with its format offering a shared art experience for humans and their canine companions.
Bringing together a wide selection of works from the foundation’s collection, the exhibition News From The Near Future reflects the institution’s thirty-year commitment to supporting and making visible research in contemporary art. Approximately 150 works by artists who have shaped the foundation’s history are included in the show. Participants followed a specially designed route through the exhibition, created with careful consideration for the physical and emotional well-being of the animals.
Inclusive and Sensitive Cultural Models
The foundation’s #OccupySandretto approach, which envisions public spaces as open, shareable, and accessible environments, was reinterpreted through this event under the title OccuBAUsandretto. The project highlights new modes of use in public cultural venues that enable the coexistence of humans and animals.
Throughout the event, experts provided guidance on how to properly accompany dogs in enclosed spaces and unfamiliar environments. Short informational and training sessions ensured the comfort and well-being of both animals and visitors remained a priority.
The event reached full capacity in a short time due to high demand, and foundation officials announced that additional dates dedicated exclusively to visitors with dogs are being planned. The initiative stands out as a compelling example of inclusive and considerate cultural models that make it possible for humans and animals to share public space together.
