About us

Pinacoteca di Brera is an autonomous state museum of general executive level established by DM 141/2014 and directed, since January 2024, by Angelo Crespi. The Institute is located within Palazzo Brera, a space that houses other historical entities, and consists of the Pinacoteca, Biblioteca Braidense and Palazzo Citterio, and manages additional spaces on Milan including the Mediateca Santa Sofia.

As a state museum, pursuant to Article 101 paragraph 3 of the Cultural Heritage Code, the institute performs a public service for the enjoyment and preservation of the cultural heritage it holds. The institute was among the first to be granted scientific, financial (with its own budget and spending capacity), accounting and administrative autonomy by the 2014 reform (Dpcm Aug. 29, 2014 No. 171), with its own statute, scientific committee and board of directors. The directorate is appointed and is under the direct control of the Minister of Cultural Heritage.
Today the Pinacoteca di Brera therefore has opportunities to sign agreements, partnerships and collaborations, as well as the ability to attract contributions from large and small donors, with ample room for fundraising to be allocated to institutional activities.
Historically, Brera’s roots go back to 1809. The Gallery was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and complements the pre-existing Accademia, which was founded by Maria Theresa of Austria. Until December 2014, the Pinacoteca di Brera was managed as an office of the Superintendence of Historical, Artistic and Ethnoanthropological Heritage of Milan.