Highlights
The secret of the OGR
Few people know that the OGR of Turin were for decades the largest railway workshops in Italy, employed in the maintenance of steam locomotives first and modern trains afterwards.
At the time of the closure, which took place in the 1990s, there were fears for the future of this immense structure.
Instead, thanks to the vision of the Fondazione CRT and a restoration of over 110 million euros, the workshops have been reborn as a symbol of Turin's transformation from capital of industry to capital of culture and innovation.
Contemporary art at international level
Contemporary art exhibitions are the beating heart of the OGR.
The spaces of the West nave host temporary exhibitions of world-renowned artists, with site-specific installations that masterfully dialogue with the architectural grandeur of the industrial environments.
The extraordinary dimensions of the spaces make it possible to host large-scale works that would hardly find a place elsewhere in the city, offering visitors truly unforgettable and immersive visual experiences.
Innovation, technology and OGR Tech
The OGR are not only art and culture: within them also beats the heart of Turin's technological innovation.
The East nave hosts OGR Tech, one of the most important innovation hubs in Northern Italy, dedicated to the acceleration of startups and to applied research in sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, environmental sustainability and life sciences.
A place where Turin's industrial tradition decisively projects itself towards the future.
Music, events and food and drink
The OGR are also a very lively hub for live events. Their extraordinary acoustics and the capacity of the spaces make them one of the most sought-after venues in Turin for concerts, festivals, conventions and major cultural events.
Throughout the year the music programme ranges from jazz to electronics, from contemporary classical to experimental music, attracting artists and audiences from all over Italy and abroad.
Located on Corso Castelfidardo, in the heart of the Crocetta district, the OGR occupy around 35,000 square metres distributed across two main naves called West and East. Reopened in 2017 after years of restoration funded by Fondazione CRT, OGR have rapidly become a reference point for those exploring creative, contemporary Turin: a living ecosystem where temporary contemporary art exhibitions, music events, international conferences and tech startups coexist under the same industrial roof.
Related experiences
International contemporary art
Contemporary art exhibitions are the beating heart of OGR. The spaces of the West nave host temporary shows by world-renowned artists, with site-specific installations that masterfully dialogue with the grandeur of the industrial architecture. The extraordinary dimensions of the spaces allow large-scale works that would hardly find a place elsewhere in the city, giving visitors truly unforgettable, immersive visual experiences.
Over the years OGR have collaborated with artists of the calibre of Carsten Höller, Kara Walker, Cardi Gallery and many other protagonists of the global art scene. Each exhibition is conceived as a unique narrative, capable of fully exploiting the evocative potential of the spaces: cast-iron columns, industrial floors and exposed beams become an integral part of the work itself.
The annual exhibition programme is constantly renewed, giving regular visitors always new reasons to return. Exhibitions are accompanied by cultural mediation programmes, themed guided tours and meetings with artists, making the experience accessible to audiences of different ages and cultural backgrounds.
Innovation, technology and OGR Tech
OGR is not only art and culture: at its core also beats the heart of Turin's technological innovation. The East nave houses OGR Tech, one of the most important innovation hubs in northern Italy, dedicated to startup acceleration and applied research in fields such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, environmental sustainability and life sciences. A place where Turin's industrial tradition projects itself decisively toward the future.
OGR Tech collaborates with universities, research centres and major national and international companies to develop high-potential innovative projects. The presence of this technological hub within a cultural space is no accident: it reflects OGR's deep philosophy, convinced that art, culture and innovation are complementary, inseparable dimensions of human development. The daily exchange between creatives, technologists and entrepreneurs generates fertile, surprising cross-pollinations.
For curious visitors, the coexistence of these two souls - artistic and technological - makes OGR a truly unique place in the Italian landscape. You can pass in just a few steps from a major contemporary art installation to a space where young entrepreneurs are building the technologies of the future.
Music, events and dining
OGR is also a lively live-event hub. Its extraordinary acoustics and the capacity of its spaces make it one of Turin's most coveted venues for concerts, festivals, conventions and major cultural events. Throughout the year the music programme ranges from jazz to electronic, from contemporary classical to experimental music, drawing artists and audiences from across Italy and abroad.
Inside OGR you'll also find quality dining and hospitality. The internal restaurant and bar offer a curated culinary experience, perfect for extending your visit or for an aperitif in the evocative industrial setting. These spaces are designed to be meeting points and social hubs, where the Turin community and visitors can gather in an informal yet architecturally fascinating environment.
OGR also hosts markets, art fairs, book launches and many events linked to fashion, design and creativity in all its forms. Almost every weekend something is on the programme. Before planning your visit, always check the events calendar on the official site so as not to miss the season's most interesting appointments.
125 years of industrial history transformed into creative energy
Few people know that OGR Turin was for decades the largest railway workshop in Italy, used for maintaining steam locomotives first and modern trains later. At the time of its closure in the 1990s, fears were raised about the future of this immense structure. Instead, thanks to the vision of Fondazione CRT and a restoration of over €110 million, the workshops were reborn as a symbol of Turin's transformation from industrial capital to capital of culture and innovation.
OGR's most surprising feature is the authentic preservation of its industrial soul: traces of working-class labour, oil stains on the walls, hooks where locomotive engines once hung have been deliberately preserved as living memory. This continuous dialogue between past and present makes OGR an emotionally powerful place, capable of moving not only those who lived through that industrial era, but also younger generations who can here physically touch the deep roots of Turin's identity.