Cristiano Leone at TEDxPadova
Cristiano Leone is a cultural manager, artistic director, and theorist of the performing arts. His work bridges artistic creation, academic research, and institutional leadership, connecting cultural heritage with contemporary experimentation.
He is President of the Santa Maria della Scala Foundation in Siena, where he leads one of Italy’s most prestigious museum complexes, housed in the former medieval hospital. Here, he promotes international visibility, interdisciplinary projects, and the site’s role as a space for cultural dialogue.
As an artistic director, he has redefined the relationship between historical heritage and modern creativity. He curated Mysterion by Yuval Avital at the Baths of Caracalla and, together with Hannes Peer, conceived the site’s permanent reflecting pool, which highlights the archaeological area and hosts performances, restoring a key element of its original identity. His contribution also helped shape the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française, a project dedicated to the French language.
As a theorist, he explores the relationship between language, performance, and heritage. His Atlas of Performing Culture (Rizzoli) analyzes global performative practices. He teaches at universities such as Sciences Po Paris, Bocconi, and Luiss Business School.
He collaborates with institutions including Villa Médicis, the National Roman Museum, the Embassy of Spain, Hermès International, and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux.
He lives between Rome, Siena, and Capri, continuing to innovate the global cultural landscape by creating connections between art, heritage, and contemporary creativity.