EXMA — Exhibiting and Moving Arts
EXMA — Exhibiting and Moving Arts is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre in Cagliari, Sardinia, housed in a converted 19th-century municipal abattoir (mattatoio) in the Villanova neighbourhood. Transformed from its original industrial use into a cultural venue in the 1990s, EXMA hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary visual art, installations, performance, and live music, as well as educational programmes and workshops for local communities. It is one of Cagliari’s most active platforms for emerging and established artists working in contemporary practice.
At a glance
- Type
- Multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre
- Period
- Building constructed late 19th century; repurposed as arts venue c. 1990s
- Style
- Converted industrial/civic architecture; open exhibition and performance spaces
- Location
- Via San Lucifero, Villanova district, Cagliari, Sardinia
- Coordinates
- 39.2144° N, 9.1203° E
Overview
EXMA occupies a large converted civic building in the Villanova neighbourhood of Cagliari, one of the city’s most historically layered districts, located between the elevated Castello quarter and the flat Marina seafront. The centre operates as a hybrid venue — part gallery, part performance space, part community hub — staging a rotating programme of temporary exhibitions, live events, and educational initiatives that reflect contemporary debates in art, society, and culture. Its industrial architecture, with high ceilings and generous open floor plans, makes it one of the most adaptable cultural spaces in southern Sardinia.
History
The building that now houses EXMA was constructed in the late 19th century as the municipal slaughterhouse (mattatoio) of Cagliari, a common typology of civic infrastructure in growing Italian cities of the post-unification era. As the city expanded and industrial functions were relocated away from residential areas during the second half of the 20th century, the disused building was identified as a candidate for cultural repurposing. The conversion to an arts venue in the 1990s was part of a broader European movement to reclaim former industrial and civic buildings as centres for contemporary culture, a model followed by venues such as the Tacheles in Berlin and La Fábrica in Madrid.
What you see
The main exhibition spaces of EXMA offer large, uncluttered rooms with natural light from high windows — ideal for large-format installations and multi-media works. The courtyard between the building’s wings serves as an outdoor venue for performances and events during the warmer months. Temporary exhibition design varies widely depending on the artist and curator, ranging from intimate solo shows to sprawling group exhibitions with participatory elements. The building’s industrial heritage — visible in the exposed ironwork and brick detailing — forms an evocative backdrop for contemporary work.
Cultural significance
EXMA is one of the few institutions in Sardinia dedicated specifically to contemporary art production and presentation, filling a gap in a regional cultural landscape more commonly associated with archaeological and ethnographic heritage. Its location in the Villanova neighbourhood, historically a working-class area undergoing gentrification, makes it a site of genuine civic engagement as well as artistic presentation. The venue has helped launch the careers of several Sardinian artists and has brought international exhibitions and practitioners to audiences who might otherwise have limited access to contemporary culture.
Practical information
- Address
- Via San Lucifero 71, 09125 Cagliari CA, Italy
- Opening hours
- Varies by exhibition programme; check the official EXMA website or social media for current schedule
- Admission
- Often free for exhibitions; ticketed for some events
Getting there
EXMA is located in the Villanova neighbourhood, within comfortable walking distance (approximately 10–15 minutes) from the historic Marina district and the port. From the central Piazza Yenne, walk south-east through Villanova along Via Garibaldi and Via San Lucifero. Local CTM buses serve the surrounding streets. Cagliari is accessible by air from Cagliari Elmas Airport, by ferry from the mainland, and by train from Sassari and other Sardinian towns.