Cultural centre Man Ray is active in Cagliari from 1995 as a free association of the professionals in the field of culture and its official site is Via Campania 26; its schoolroom site is in via Isonzo, Cagliari.
The centre is active in the field of the social culture and its main task is to disseminate artistic expressions of the visual communication through the organization of artistic and didactic exhibitions, debates, workshops, conferences and performances. Particular attention is paid to photography in the Man Ray Photo School directed by Stefano Grassi. Photo schools program includes both techniques of shooting and elaboration of digital photography, and lectures of history of art, applied physics, cinema, marketing and strategy of the enterprise.
Various activities practised by the Centre allowed to create an opportunity of exchange and communication between artists from different fields of art: from music to poetry, from fine arts to photography e video, from theatre to dance.
In activities of Man Ray centre participate all noted Sardinian artists from all parts of the regional territory and also some artists working on international level, they also support emerging young artists with an aim to recognize and promote new talents selected not only in the base of main interest of their artistic research but also of innovation of content of their works. For this reason in 2001 occurs Imperfetto futuro”, an exhibition of Art in progress, planed and directed by Wanda Nazzari, the aim of which is to stimulate an artistic research through the promotion of youngsters separated in various fields: painting, photography, video, music, theatre, dance, poetry.
The inheritance of knowledge and professionalism matured in the long run are numerous personal exhibitions as well as national and international exhibitions realised by Man Ray Centre.
A particular care is dedicated to annual exhibitions "Stanze” and "Imperfetto futuro".
Through numerous initiatives (are realised about 250 exhibitions) distinguish:
"Stanze” from 1999 to 2012, multimedial project of Wanda Nazzari, an annual exhibition of visual arts: photography, fine arts, sculpture, video-art, installation, etc. The project foresees an interaction of visual arts, music, theatre, dance, poetry. The exhibition takes place according to two different lines: a proposal of one theme in the frame of which artists are invited to develop their work or another one, which through a expositive collectivity masks personal features of already well-known and affirmed artists.
"Percorsi dello Spirito” 1998/2000, multimedial project of Wanda Nazzari, an international exhibition of visual and performative arts: reflection through the values which characterize spiritual dimension and for which were invited artists from different geografic areas ( Italy, USA, Japan).
"Attraversamenti” 1999/2000, multimedial project of Wanda Nazzari. Exhibition of visual and performative arts.
"Imperfetto futuro” happening of art in progress 2001/2012, multimedial project of Wanda Nazzari, realised by Wanda Nazzari and Stefano Grassi. "Imperfetto futuro" art in progress, youthful festival of arts, is an interactive project of Wanda Nazzari, artistic director of Man Ray Cultural Centre. It borns in 2001 with an aim to promote and stimulate the creativity of young artists, offering them an opportunity to show off in various artistic fields together with other already affirmed artists in the field of music, theatre and dance, in full freedom and spirit of collaboration.
An historian of art, she teaches this subject at the upper secondary art school in Alghero. She cooperates with the University of Sassari. She has worked at the superintendency in charge of architectural and landscape assets and the historic, artistic and ethno-anthropological heritage of Sassari for the safeguarding of Sassari's architectural and artistic heritage.
She works with public and private organizations such as Time in Jazz, Su Palatu Fotografia, Associazione Culturale Sadomomanna, the Faculty of Architecture of Alghero, the municipal administrations of Alghero, Sassari and Bosa, the Conference of Italian Bishops (CEI) and the fine arts academy in Sassari. She has curated many exhibitions and since 1997 she has been the scientific consultant of the Man Ray Cultural Centre.
Gianfranca Loi graduates in 2003 in Modern Literature, with a thesis in History of Contemporary Art, at the University of Cagliari.
In 2006/2007 she attends the Master in management of Cultural and Artistic Events, at Palazzo Spinelli Art and Restoration institute of Florence, earning the title of "Technical expert in the management of museums and art galleries”.
Since 2008 she has been collaborating with the cultural centre Man Ray in the organization of cultural and artistic events.
In 2006 she graduated in the history of art from the Sapienza University of Rome as a curator of contemporary art. In 2007 she attended the course of specialization leading to the title of "Expert in Network Cultural Content" of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MIUR) and qualified as a “technician in educational services with functions of outward promotion operating in enhanced cultural and environmental sites” - the Parnaso Programme of the Sardinian regional administration. In 2008/2009 she worked for the UNICITY company in Rome as a copywriter specialized in the enhancement of cultural assets and business communications. From 2010 to 2013 she worked in Cagliari as a multimedia technician for the Karel video production company.
Involved in the field of contemporary art and photography museums, she has worked as a teacher of the history of photography and art at the school of photography of the Man Ray Cultural Centre in Cagliari, of which she is a member, and curates the exhibitions of the school’s students at the end of their courses.