Confindustria warns Italian cultural sector is 'dramatically at breaking point' due to COVID-19

Confindustria Cultura Italia (CCI), the Italian Federation of Cultural Industry, has issued an urgent appeal to the Italian government for additional targeted measures to support the cultural sector, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 lockdown. The 'Cura Italia' decree of March 16, 2020, allocated €25 billion for the national economy, including €130 million for cinema and live performances, but CCI president Innocenzo Cipolletta stated these are insufficient. According to CCI data, cinema box office collapsed 95% in the last weekend before closures; from February 24 to March 8, losses reached €16.3 million and 2.5 million viewers. The audiovisual sector halted all production, with damages exceeding €100 million. Music industry sales dropped 60%, and publishing expects 18,600 fewer titles, 39.3 million unprinted copies, and 2,500 untranslated titles, with book sales down 75% year-on-year. CCI requests: an emergency fund extended to publishing, music, and museum services; extended layoffs and tax suspensions; allocation of 10% of SIAE private copy fees to producers; and measures to sustain cultural demand, including reclassifying physical cultural goods as essential items for courier delivery. Separate appeals came from Associazione Metamorfosi and Associazione BelleArti, addressed to Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini and Minister of Economy Roberto Gualtieri.