The Castle of Rivoli has ancient origins; the earliest evidence of the fortified building dates back to 1159. Almost a century later, the Castle became part of the Savoy domain and from then, it followed the fate of the Savoy dynasty until 1883, when it was sold to the town of Rivoli.  Over the centuries, the Castle underwent different transformations and different vicissitudes. In 1984, after an important restoration campaign, it became home to Italy’s first Museum of Contemporary Art. In 1997, its beauty, architectural value and rich history led to the Castle of Rivoli being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the Castle is known througout the world as one of the most qualified points of reference for contemporary art. The museum offers an extremely important programme of cultural events and exhibitions, focusing on the promotion of its extraordinary collection as well as on the organisation of temporary shows. The Education Department, specialist library, archives and multimedia centre make the Castle of Rivoli a vital centre for research and experimentation of international reach, but one that is also deeply rooted in its local area.

The Castle of Rivoli and Museum of Contemporary Art has become a leading example of cultural accessibility. In 2010, the “Dizionario di arte contemporanea in lingua dei segni italiana” [Dictionary of Contemporary Art in Italian Sign Language] was published,  a cutting-edge project created thanks to collaboration between the Education Department of the Museum and the Institute for the Deaf, Turin. It is an actual dictionary with a brand new lexicon: 80 new specific signs that refer to art in the current period, especially developed and tested by a mixed team of deaf and hearing people, who are experts in the field. This unique product of quality is accessible to all people who want to bring contemporary art closer to deaf people.  Collaboration with the Institute for the Deaf in Turin has led to the creation of an Italian Sign Language video, with subtitles and narrator, about the history of the Castle of Rivoli, which is used to introduce the tour of the museum. The video is available online. The Education Department regularly offers visits using Italian Sign Language, carried out by a deaf signer (booking required).