Italian Cultural Workers Face Precarious Conditions and Low Pay

A report by Artribune reveals that cultural workers in Italy are severely underpaid and overworked, with wages as low as €4 per hour gross, denied holidays, and endless shifts. The Ministry of Culture acknowledges the problem but blames state bureaucracy for the inability to hire, citing a freeze on public hiring and turnover. The workforce has been halved, with an average age nearing 60. Protests have erupted across Italy, from Naples to Milan, Florence to Rome, with workers demanding better conditions. The Decreto Colosseo of 2015 classified museums as essential public services, preventing closures but not addressing staffing shortages. Outsourcing to private companies has led to precarious contracts, with only 7% of workers covered by the Federculture contract. The ICOM has emphasized the need for museums to be sustainable for their workers. Laura Raicovich's book 'Lo sciopero della cultura' argues that museums are 'intrinsically colonial' institutions that perpetuate conservative and capitalist values, impacting labor conditions. Data from AWI – Art Workers Italia shows 86% of art workers have a master's degree, 79% hold multiple jobs, and 39.8% do so because art work alone is insufficient. The PNRR is seen as a historic opportunity but also a risk. Raicovich suggests radically slowing down cultural production to address structural issues.