Gianni Romano Runs for Milan City Council on Beppe Sala's List

Gianni Romano, the well-known curator, critic, and founder of Postmedia Books, is running for a seat on the Milan city council as a candidate for the Lista Civica Beppe Sala. In an interview with Artribune, Romano discusses his political background, his vision for culture in Milan, and his campaign strategy. He recalls his early activism, including occupying the University of Naples L'Orientale in 1980 to protest Bobby Sands' hunger strike, and his involvement with the Radical Party until age 29. He later supported Stefano Boeri's candidacy. Romano criticizes the conflation of culture with entertainment, citing Guy Debord's critique of spectacle. He praises the legacy of Expo 2015 but argues that cultural policy should not rely solely on mega-events. He advocates for more production centers over showcase venues and calls for greater municipal involvement in cultural production. Romano's campaign has been creative, involving a team of twenty young volunteers, and he has avoided making promises he cannot keep. He emphasizes that culture requires investment, stating 'culture costs, ignorance costs more.' Romano is part of a broader slate of cultural figures running in Italian local elections, including Claudia Zanfi in Milan and Roberto Gramiccia in Rome.