Italian Cultural Institutions Mobilize for Ukraine

In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, various Italian cultural organizations have undertaken initiatives to show support. On Michelangelo's birthday, Florence's Mayor Dario Nardella covered the David statue in black, which drew criticism on social media. The Ministry of Culture, under Dario Franceschini, introduced the #cultureunitestheworld campaign, with the Colosseum lit in Ukrainian colors on February 24. In Bergamo, Factory Market raised €2,900 for the Red Cross. Artists at Risk provides residencies for Ukrainian and dissident artists throughout Europe. The Ukrainian Catholic Basilica of Santa Sofia in Rome is gathering essential supplies. Triennale Milano's Planeta Ukrain contributes to the Ukrainian Pavilion at the 23rd International Exhibition. MAXXI's UKRAINE: SHORT STORIES exhibition, running from March 10-20, will support UNHCR, UNICEF, and the Red Cross. Other events include a reading at Libreria Tuba, a collection at the University of Salerno, a reflection event at Link Campus University on March 15, and a fundraising weekend at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie, where 6,500 refugees arrived on March 3.