Italian artists call for guaranteed minimum wage amid COVID-19 crisis

In an article by Alberto Fiz on Artribune, it is emphasized that Italy's young artists are overlooked by institutions and lack adequate social safety nets. Lombardy's cultural sector employs 365,000 individuals and generates €25.4 billion, featuring 585 museums. Many artists work without pay, depending on family assistance. Sergio Risaliti points out the absence of social protection for these young creatives. Although charity efforts like #DaiUnSegno have engaged over 200 artists, such initiatives are infrequent. ConfCultura's appeal to Giuseppe Conte addresses cultural ecology but omits artists. The piece advocates for a guaranteed minimum wage for low-income artists and calls on public institutions to allocate funds for acquiring works from emerging talent. Notable developments include Acacia's donation of 31 pieces to Museo del Novecento and Dario Franceschini's allocation of €1.3 million for 23 projects, promoting collaboration among artists, research institutions, universities, and industries.