History of the Cultural Promotion Department

The Cultural Promotion Department is set up in 1972, the year in which Paolo Grassi succeeds Antonio Ghiringhelli as General Manager.

In order to put forward his idea of theatre as a non-elitist "public service" open to all citizens, Grassi creates the "Department for Relations with the CGIL, CISL and UIL Trade Unions". The Commendatore Silvestro Severgnini takes charge of it.

The new department caters for workers (through works committees) and schools. It dedicates them a few opera and ballet performances that are not part of subscription programme, renamed "Serate GSL" (GSL Nights), aimed at young people, students, and workers. The GSL public can also attend symphony concerts performed by the Orchestra della Scala, chamber music concerts, as well as conferences on topics related to the Teatro alla Scala performances.

During the 1979/1980 season, with Carlo Maria Badini as General Manager, the Teatro alla Scala founds the "Department for the Communities", which aims at increasing the audience involved by the "Department for Relations with Trade Unions".

From 1990 on, Carlo Fontana’s management purses the policy introduced by Paolo Grassi. In order to provide the public of the Cultural Promotion Department with further opportunities of accessing the Theatre, Fontana reserves a greater number of tickets for all the performances of the La Scala season.

During the renovation of the Theatre’s historical site, the Cultural Promotion Department continues its activities in the new premises of the Teatro degli Arcimboldi.

The 2004/2005 season marks the return to the Piermarini auditorium, while in spring 2005 Stéphane Lissner becomes the new General Manager and Artistic Director. He confirms the theatre’s spirit of public service and supports the activities of the Cultural Promotion Service.