MA*GA – Museo d'Arte Gallarate

About the museum

MA*GA is one of Italy's leading museums of contemporary art, and its identity is bound up with the Premio Gallarate, founded in 1949 and still active. The museum was officially established in 1966 as the Civica Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Gallarate, initially made up of the works acquired from the first eight editions of the prize.

A turning point came in 2009, when the city set up the Fondazione Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Silvio Zanella, with the municipality of Gallarate and the Ministry of Culture as founding members and Regione Lombardia and the Province of Varese as co-founders. In March 2010 the museum took the name MA*GA – Museo d'Arte Gallarate and inaugurated its new home in via Egidio De Magri. It has been recognised by Regione Lombardia since 2004, has been a member of AMACI (Associazione dei Musei d'Arte Contemporanea Italiani) since 2007 and, since 2018, has also been an Istituto culturale of national importance for the Ministry of Culture.

The Foundation curates, manages and expands the city's contemporary art collections, supports artistic and curatorial projects and pays attention to accessibility and education. The museum takes a multidisciplinary approach, ranging from literature to the performing arts and from design to fashion: one example is the Sala Arazzi Ottavio Missoni. Since 2021, together with the municipality, it has created HIC – Hub degli Istituti Culturali, where a library, study rooms and research spaces sit alongside the exhibition spaces, and in 2023 the Centro di ricerca Italia 2050 was founded.

Highlights

• Contemporary art collection born from the Premio Gallarate (1949)
• Sala Arazzi Ottavio Missoni
• HIC – Hub degli Istituti Culturali with library and research spaces
• Centro di ricerca Italia 2050
• Zamberletti Art Café with an outdoor terrace among greenery

Permanent exhibition

• Sala Arazzi Ottavio Missoni – Room devoted to the tapestries of Ottavio Missoni, an example of the museum's multidisciplinary approach across art, design and fashion.

Founded

1966

Operated by

Fondazione Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Silvio Zanella

Director

Emma Zanella

Visitors per year

approx. 102,131

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Giornate Ricola (free admission days): 4 December, 8 January, 5 February, 5 March and 2 April; 50 admissions on the first Friday of every month from 15:00

Until 14 November 2026 admission is free, because only the Sala Arazzi Ottavio Missoni is open; the prices given apply from 15 November 2026, with the exhibition “Jago. Corpi esposti”. Free admission also for ICOM members, AMACI members and Friends of the MA*GA, holders of the Musei Lombardia Valle d'Aosta pass, accredited journalists, one teacher per 10 pupils and licensed tour guides.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum's collections are fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers workshops for families, activities in the neighbourhoods with the ApeMA*GA and birthday parties.

Getting there & parking

By car from Milan and Varese: Autostrada dei Laghi, exit Gallarate.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Zamberletti Art Café with kitchen and an outdoor terrace among greenery: Tuesday to Friday 10:00–18:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00–19:00.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum website has a section “Organizza il tuo evento” (organise your event).

Plan your visit