Forum Omegna

About the museum

The Forum in Omegna was founded in 1998 with a contribution from the European Union as a centre for the city's cultural and social development. It stands on the site of the former Cobianchi ironworks, where blast furnaces produced cast iron: the ironworks was Omegna's main industrial hub until 1967, and production ceased in the early 1980s. Parts of the old plant are still visible, including the vault, the load-bearing walls of the overhead crane and the hoppers for raw materials. The municipality had already begun converting part of the area in 1995.

The Forum is run by the foundation set up in 1997 as the Fondazione Museo Arti e Industria di Omegna, now the Fondazione Parco delle Arti e della Cultura di Omegna, which also manages the Parco della Fantasia “Gianni Rodari”. Between 2021 and 2022 the interior and exterior spaces were renovated to a design by Atelier Mendini, with support from the municipality and Fondazione Cariplo.

The heart of the exhibitions is the MOCA, the museum dedicated to household objects produced in the area: it holds products from companies founded in the Cusio, including Alessi, Bialetti, Lagostina and Girmi, and presents a multimedia show on post-war Italy and an open archive of company histories and advertising campaigns. The Forum also hosts temporary exhibitions, a shop, a restaurant-pizzeria and conference rooms.

Highlights

• Collection of household objects by Alessi, Bialetti, Lagostina and Girmi
• Multimedia show on post-war Italy in the MOCA digital room
• Archivio Aperto with products, documents and advertising campaigns of local companies
• Former Cobianchi ironworks with vault, overhead crane and hoppers still visible
• Le Fabbriche del Gioco, an interactive games museum

Permanent exhibitions

• MOCA – Museo Omegnese del Casalingo – Collection of household objects from companies founded in the area, and a digital room with a multimedia show on Omegna's post-war industry.
• Archivio Aperto – Iconic products, historical materials and documents from local companies such as Alessi, Bialetti and Lagostina.
• Le Fabbriche del Gioco – Interactive toy museum built around a play route with a railway theme.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Fondazione Parco delle Arti e della Cultura di Omegna (P.ar.c.O.)

Admission & discounts

MOCA prices follow the official price list; the Abbonamento Musei Piemonte Valle d'Aosta card is accepted, according to the Abbonamento Musei portal.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Forum is located within the Parco Pasquale Maulini in Omegna.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Pizzeria restaurant “Al Parco” and the Shop del Parco, with children's books linked to Gianni Rodari and local products. Wi-Fi is only indicated for the coworking spaces available for rent.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

150-seat auditorium (renovated in 2022), the “Pinocchio” room for 40–50 people, the “Giovannino” room for 15–20 people and coworking workstations, all available for hire by the hour or by the day.

Plan your visit