by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Giorgio Rossi, Trieste councilor for tourism and culture; Adriano Rizzi – President of CoopCulture
The city of Trieste unveiled its new educational offerings for civic museums on Saturday, introducing programs designed for visitors of all ages and schools. The initiative, managed by CoopCulture, a cooperative specializing in cultural services, was presented at the Salone degli Incanti by Giorgio Rossi, Trieste’s Councillor for Culture and Tourism, alongside CoopCulture President Adriano Rizzi.
The concession, which runs from September 2025 through 2028, entrusts CoopCulture with managing the educational services of the city’s historic, artistic, and scientific museums. The cooperative, already active in Friuli Venezia Giulia through library programs and since 2023 with the Miramare Castle educational services, will now open a local office in Trieste, adding to its presence in Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Palermo.
Mr. Rossi emphasized that the new programs aim to transform museums into “open classrooms” where students can learn through hands-on experiences. “Our museums will no longer be static spaces to visit once, but dynamic environments where curiosity drives learning,” he said.
CoopCulture’s president highlighted the cooperative’s growing commitment to northeastern Italy. “We hope that this collaboration with the City of Trieste will increase access to the city’s rich cultural and museum heritage,” Mr. Rizzi said.
The initiative introduces a range of activities for both schools and adults, including workshops, guided tours, and events for families and organized groups. Some programs will be available in English and Slovenian, as well as in connection with temporary exhibitions.
The 2025–26 education catalog, created in collaboration with the City of Trieste, will be available online at CoopCulture’s website and the city’s cultural portals. Reservations can be made through a dedicated call center or by email.
The first activities under the new concession are already underway, including the exhibition Tolkien. Man, Professor, Author, which runs at the Salone degli Incanti through January 11, 2026. Weekly guided tours are offered to visitors every Sunday at no extra cost beyond admission.
In addition, fixed-schedule tours of San Giusto Castle will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from late September through early November, at a cost of €7 plus admission.
As part of the launch, an “Educational Day” for teachers and educators is scheduled for Saturday afternoon across three of Trieste’s museums: the Sea Museum, the Sartorio Museum, and the Carlo Schmidl Theatre Museum. Each will serve as a thematic hub—scientific, artistic, and historical respectively—introducing the public to the new educational paths and workshops available for schools and adult groups.
