The big opening event of LAC. A celebration of art, a celebration for everyone.

“We did it!” is the liberating, sincere and moving shout of enthousiasm of the vice mayor Giovanna Masoni Brenni, head of department of the Culture and Education Area. The dream, pursued with passion, patience and commitment by her in the front row and the whole council, even surpassing difficulties and resistance, has finally come true: after 15 years of planning and five years after the laying of the foundation stone, Lugano has its brand new Cultural and Artistic Center, the LAC.

Last Saturday morning, a crowded Piazza Bernardino Luini witnessed with excitement the symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony that involved many city and cantonal authorities. We were there too, clapping our hands among the crowd. By our side, young and old people, families and children. Lugano was there, Ticino was there, and ideally the Italian Switzerland surrounding the new cultural center.

Because, as stated by the Mayor Sindaco Marco Borradori during his speech: «This is a place for all of us and all of you». An “inclusive” pole, not only because it embraces all the artistic and cultural disciplines – painting, music, theater, dance, literature – but also because it does not exclude anyone, open with curiosity and courage to the world: «We don’t have to be scared about thinking great, we must find the courage to spread our wings without burning them» concluded the mayor before hundreds of white balloons conquered the sky of Lugano.

The windows over the city and the lake (impressive even in the melancholy tones of a cloudy day of September) are the best metaphor for this concept of thinking great, projected into the future: «LAC is like a baby who needs care – said Giovanna Masoni Brenni – nut we designed and built it for the next 100 years».

When the doors opened, turning back to watch the excited and cosmopolite crowd entering the beautiful building of the LAC, you had the feeling of being a spectator of one of those moments where the history turns and changes direction (one of those story to tell our grandchildren by saying: «we were there»…)

Because the LAC represents a change of perspective for Lugano: from the financial and banking center, to city pointing on art and culture to build its future. It is a bet, but we’re sure it will be successful. Because it is based on the same principles that guide us in our daily activities: namely, that art can be a cultural and social but also economic engine of growth and development.

With the opening of the LAC, art becomes the center of life of Lugano and the Canton. The same Ticino which, by geographic location, has been in the past a real crossroads for artists and contact point between the ancient Italian tradition and modern suggestions of northern Europe (the inaugural exhibition celebrating this North-South dialogue will be described in our next post).

The participation and enthusiasm of this inauguration day are the evidence that culture, if proposed and promoted in the right way, is not just for few lovers and collectors, but can involve a wide audience.

Because art is nothing but humanity itself, in its most intimate expression. It is, to quote the words of the Director of State Manuele Bertoli, “the best part of us.”

And so: Hooray for art. Hooray for the LAC!