Far-right attacks on museum directors in Italy escalate, targeting Egyptian Museum's Christian Greco
Attacks on museum directors in Italy are intensifying, with Christian Greco, who leads the Museo Egizio in Turin, now facing scrutiny. On September 21, 2023, Andrea Crippa, the vice-secretary of Lega, demanded Greco's resignation, accusing him of ideological bias and offering discriminatory discounts to Muslim visitors. Criticism also came from Maurizio Marrone, the Welfare assessor for Piedmont, regarding Greco's reappointment. The museum’s board, under Evelina Christillin, expressed support for Greco, highlighting his accomplishments since 2014. Former Turin mayor Chiara Appendino called on Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano to take action, but he refrained from commenting. A collective of 92 scholars backed Greco’s qualifications. Similar criticisms have been directed at other directors, including Eike Schmidt and Antonello Mamo. Greco reaffirmed the museum's lasting significance.
Key facts
- Christian Greco is director of Museo Egizio in Turin since 2014.
- Maurizio Marrone (Fratelli d'Italia) said he would not confirm Greco for a second term.
- Board of directors unanimously supports Greco, citing his excellent work.
- Andrea Crippa (Lega) demanded Greco's resignation on September 21, 2023.
- Crippa accused Greco of ideological management and discriminatory discounts for Muslims.
- Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano refused to comment on the attacks.
- Chiara Appendino filed a parliamentary question to the minister.
- 92 scholars published an open letter supporting Greco.
- Eike Schmidt criticized Florence's contemporary art programming, targeting Sergio Risaliti.
- Antonello Mamo faced intimidation from Carlo Auteri.
- Manuel Borja-Villel of Reina Sofia was attacked by Spanish right-wing media in February 2023.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Greco
- Evelina Christillin
- Maurizio Marrone
- Andrea Crippa
- Giorgia Meloni
- Chiara Appendino
- Gennaro Sangiuliano
- Eike Schmidt
- Sergio Risaliti
- Antonello Mamo
- Carlo Auteri
- Manuel Borja-Villel
- Antonio Mario Ferrero
- Enrico Eraldo Bertacchini
- Domenico Siniscalco
- Marco Giovannini
Institutions
- Museo Egizio
- Fondazione Museo delle Antichità Egizie di Torino
- Corriere Torino
- Artribune
- Gallerie degli Uffizi
- Museo Novecento
- Parco archeologico di Siracusa
- Reina Sofia
- Lega
- Fratelli d'Italia
- Corriere Fiorentino
- Affaritaliani
- Grande Brera
Locations
- Turin
- Italy
- Piedmont
- Florence
- Syracuse
- Madrid
- Spain
- Milan