French press accuses Villa Medici of excessive commercialism

Since 1803, Villa Medici has served as the French Academy in Rome, but it is now embroiled in controversy. A report from Le Monde reveals that a group of former residents has criticized the Académie de France à Rome for focusing on “commercial profitability” rather than its core mission of promoting French artistic creation abroad. They argue that this commercial emphasis sidelines the residents. This shift traces back to the 1971 Malraux reform, which expanded the academy's objectives. Cristiano Leone, who oversees cultural programming, labels the criticism as destabilizing in light of the upcoming director's election and defends current director Muriel Mayette-Holtz, pointing out the villa's four annual exhibitions and guided tours that attract around 40,000 visitors each year.