Fondazione Antonio Ratti, located in Como, Italy, is a renowned non-profit foundation established in 1985 by Antonio Ratti. Its mission is to support and promote research and experimentation in culture and the arts, with a particular focus on art and textiles. The foundation houses Antonio Ratti's exceptional collection of antique textiles, consisting of over 30,000 pieces from around the world.

Additionally, its library, with over 7,800 specialized volumes, is open to the public and covers topics like textiles, fashion, visual arts, and crafts. Fondazione Antonio Ratti organizes various activities, courses, exhibitions, and seminars dedicated to subjects such as textile history, art theory, and permaculture. Its Artists' Research Laboratory (CSAV) program, initiated in 1995, provides young international artists with the opportunity to deepen their practices and engage in dialogue with renowned figures in the contemporary art scene.

The foundation's location, Villa Sucota, is not only home to its collections but also hosts site-specific artworks created by collaborating artists. These spaces serve as platforms for encounters, debates, and the expansion of research and influence across diverse fields. Fondazione Antonio Ratti is internationally recognized and partakes in a wider network of institutions that exchange and develop ideas together.

The foundation's architectural and cultural prominence within the Kilometer of Knowledge project enhances its status as a cultural reference point for the city of Como. Antonio Ratti, an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Como, founded Fondazione Antonio Ratti based on his belief that textile is a cultural product. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1945 with Tessitura Serica Antonio Ratti and culminated in the creation of the Ratti Group, a leading global manufacturer of fabrics designed with creativity and technological research.

Antonio Ratti's vision embraced the fusion of business and art, encouraging creativity and cultural activities. His extensive collection of antique fabrics inspired the establishment of the foundation, which continues to preserve and study textiles while offering opportunities for young artists through the Artists' Research Laboratory program. Not only was Antonio Ratti named Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1972, but he also had close associations with renowned cultural institutions such as the Guggenheim, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as Palazzo Grassi in Venice and Palazzo Reale.

As part of his commitment to textile conservation, Antonio Ratti financed the creation of the Antonio Ratti Textile Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This innovative structure focuses on studying and preserving textiles, consolidating various textile collections previously housed in separate departments of the museum. After Antonio Ratti's passing in 2002, his daughter, Annie Ratti, assumed leadership roles within the foundation.

With a distinguished Board of Directors and Advisory Board, Fondazione Antonio Ratti drives forward its dedication to visual arts, culture, and textile research. For more information, visitors can explore Fondazione Antonio Ratti's website or contact them directly