Italian cultural sector protests against genocide in Palestine
More than 800 personnel from the Italian Ministry of Culture have denounced Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank as acts of genocide, showing their support for the Palestinian people. They urged for the recognition of the State of Palestine, the suspension of treaties with Israel, and the expansion of cultural programs such as scholarships for Gazan students. This demonstration took place after a general strike on October 3, 2025, triggered by Israel's seizure of Global Sumud Flotilla boats. Student protests were noted at institutions like Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa and Sapienza in Rome. On October 3, cultural venues, including Bari's Museo Civico and over 20 pavilions at the Venice Biennale, were closed. The Biennalocene group is advocating for a boycott due to Israel's participation in the 2026 Biennale Arte, alongside incidents of vandalism in Milan and a delayed exhibition in Faenza.
Key facts
- Over 800 Ministry of Culture employees signed a document condemning genocide in Gaza and West Bank
- Document demands recognition of Palestine, freezing treaties with Israel, and cultural initiatives for Gazans
- General strike on October 3, 2025, follows Israel's seizure of Global Sumud Flotilla boats
- Student occupations at Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa, Università Orientale and Federico II Naples, Università Statale Milan, Sapienza Rome
- Museo Civico Bari, World Press Photo Exhibition Turin, and Comicon closed on October 3
- Over 20 pavilions closed at Venice Biennale including UK, Germany, Spain, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Rolex
- Biennalocene demands total boycott of Israel's pavilion at 2026 Biennale Arte
- Activists stormed Italian Tech Week at OGR Turin; statue of Vittorio Emanuele II vandalized in Milan
- MIC Faenza postponed Itamar Gilboa's exhibition 'World of Plenty' to spring 2026
Entities
Artists
- Samar Abu Elouf
- Mahmoud Ajjour
- Joe Sacco
- Itamar Gilboa
Institutions
- Ministero della Cultura
- USB
- Global Sumud Flotilla
- Scuola Normale Superiore
- Università Orientale
- Università Federico II
- Università Statale di Milano
- Sapienza Università di Roma
- Museo Civico di Bari
- World Press Photo Exhibition
- Cime
- Comicon
- Campania Libri Festival
- Palazzo Reale di Napoli
- BASE Milano
- Biennale di Venezia
- Biennalocene
- Rolex
- Italian Tech Week
- Officine Grandi Riparazioni (OGR) Torino
- MIC Faenza
- Project Room
- Artribune
Locations
- Italia
- Campania
- Pisa
- Napoli
- Milano
- Roma
- Bari
- Torino
- Venezia
- Giardini della Biennale
- Arsenale
- Faenza
- Gaza
- Cisgiordania
- Striscia di Gaza
- Palestina
- Israele