On 5 June 2026, Kasa dei Libri hosted the talk ‘Living Archives: A Few Stories’, a discussion between Fondazione MAIRE - ETS, the Archivio Storico Sisal, the Archivio Negroni and Kasa dei Libri itself, focusing on the living and contemporary value of archives – to mark Archivissima 2026.

On 5 June, to mark the latest edition of Archivissima, MuseoCity organised – and Kasa dei Libri hosted – an event bringing together organisations from the sector to discuss how archives preserve stories, memories and identities that are still very much alive, featuring a talk entitled ‘Living Archives: A Few Stories’, as a prelude to the “Notte degli Archivi” (Night of the Archives).

Through stories, memories and absences, the protagonists have demonstrated how archives can both preserve and generate narratives: from the rediscovery of the newspaper “Sport Italia”, as recounted by the Archivio Storico Sisal — in which the word ‘Totocalcio’ first appeared — to the connections between microhistory and macrohistory explored by the Archivio Negroni, right through to Kasa dei Libri’s reflection on the absences and gaps that every collection inevitably entails.

For the Fondazione MAIRE – ETS our Heritage Manager, Francesca Rinaldo, brought to the discussion table her experience of the “Barbara Picutti Creative Contest” initiative – the literary contest, now in its third edition, that it is open only to the MAIRE Group colleagues (both current and retired) who are challenged each year to write a tale – whether based on real events or pure fiction – inspired by historical materials: from ancient work tools unearthed in the offices to documents held in the Digital Vault, all in line with a designated theme, ranging from travel to connections.

«The silence of the archives that makes a noise and tells its own story. “What Is Not There” – through accounts of real-life experiences – sparked a rich and substantive debate in the moving and unique setting of Kasa dei Libri» –commented Francesca Rinaldo.

This initiative forms part of the Archivissima programme, in which we have been participating as a Foundation for the past four years, and was organised by MuseoCity as a continuation of a partnership that began with our participation this year in Milano MuseoCity 2026, with the exhibition “Engineering on the move: sports venues from the MAIRE Historical Archive”.

The ninth edition of Archivissima – sponsored by Promemoria Group and organised by the social promotion association Archivissima APS – held from 4 to 7 June 2026, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the cultural heritage of historical business archives for the general public: over 500 organisations, a 25 per cent increase in new members, 20 regional and thematic networks, and around 250 in-person events across the country, a full programme of live events in Turin and hundreds of previously unpublished digital resources.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the organisers, the host and the partners who, together with us, have brought to life “what is not there” – or perhaps it is there, living on in our archives.


To relive our participation in previous editions of Archivissima, visit the dedicated landing page.