Cristiana Perrella defends museum reopening during pandemic

Cristiana Perrella, director of Centro Pecci in Prato, Italy, argues that museums should remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing the government's indiscriminate closure of cultural spaces without explanation. She notes that the second closure in November 2020 sparked weak reactions and little debate, unlike the closure of ski facilities. Perrella emphasizes that museums serve a primary need for critical thinking and aesthetic experience, and that staying closed reinforces the idea that culture is dispensable. She cites Cecilie Hollberg of Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, who observed that during reopening, local citizens returned to the museum, transforming it into a community stronghold. Perrella disagrees with the economic argument that museums should wait for tourism to return, advocating instead for reduced hours and partial openings to maintain presence and send a positive signal. She reports that Centro Pecci closed 2020 with a balanced budget despite the crisis, maintaining a dynamic program of exhibitions, workshops, cinema, concerts, and talks. The difference in costs between open and closed is mainly security, covered by furlough when closed, but Perrella argues that staying open is preferable to relying on partial compensation that excludes educational activities and sponsorships. She calls for leaving reopening decisions to museum directors, trusting their judgment.