Bonisoli's Decree Merges Galleria dell'Accademia with Uffizi, Director Hollberg Ousted

In the midst of Italy's government crisis, outgoing Minister of Cultural Heritage Alberto Bonisoli signed a decree on August 13, 2019, implementing a controversial reorganization of state museums. The decree, dubbed "controriforma" by critics, largely reverses the 2014 Franceschini reform that granted autonomy to major museums with internationally selected directors. It abolishes regional museum hubs, replacing them with territorial directorates, and merges several institutions. Notably, the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence—along with the Museo di San Marco—is absorbed into the Uffizi Galleries. Its director, Cecilie Hollberg, was informed by email on August 22 that her contract, set to expire November 30, was terminated early. Under Hollberg's leadership since 2015, the Accademia increased visitors by 22% to 1.7 million annually and revenue by 14.7% to €8.7 million, with a projected 45% growth for 2019. Hollberg called the move "devastating," stating culture should not be instrumentalized by politics. Florence Mayor Dario Nardella condemned the decree as "incomprehensible" and a "riformicchia" (little reform), noting it was enacted by a caretaker government. Other mergers include the Pinacoteca di Brera absorbing the Cenacolo Vinciano, and the creation of the National Etruscan Museums based at Villa Giulia. The decree also suspends autonomy for the Parco dell'Appia Antica and Villa Giulia museum in Rome.