Italian culture councilors demand state of crisis for cultural sector amid COVID-19
In response to Italy's decree on March 11 that designated a 'red zone' and closed cultural venues to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, culture councilors from prominent cities issued an open letter to the government. The letter was signed by Luca Bergamo (Rome), Adham Darawsha (Palermo), Filippo Del Corno (Milan), Eleonora De Majo (Naples), Barbara Grosso (Genoa), Francesca Leon (Turin), Matteo Lepore (Bologna), Paola Mar (Venice), Ines Pierucci (Bari), and Tommaso Sacchi (Florence). They are calling for a cultural sector crisis declaration, enhanced employment protections, temporary citizenship income extensions, credit payment suspensions, increased Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo (FUS) beneficiaries, and flexibility in cultural funding regulations for local governments. They caution that without assistance, the sector's recovery could be jeopardized.
Key facts
- Italian government decree on March 11, 2020 made all Italy a 'red zone'
- Decree closed museums, theaters, cinemas, and cultural institutions
- Culture councilors from 10 major Italian cities signed an open letter
- Letter demands declaring state of crisis for public and private cultural sector
- Requests include extending employment protections to all contract types
- Requests temporary citizenship income for cultural workers with or without VAT
- Calls for suspension of credit payments and expansion of FUS beneficiaries
- Signatories include councilors from Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologna, Venice, Palermo, Genoa, Bari, Florence
Entities
Artists
- Luca Bergamo
- Adham Darawsha
- Filippo Del Corno
- Eleonora De Majo
- Barbara Grosso
- Francesca Leon
- Matteo Lepore
- Paola Mar
- Ines Pierucci
- Tommaso Sacchi
Institutions
- Artribune
- Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo
Locations
- Italy
- Rome
- Palermo
- Milan
- Naples
- Genoa
- Turin
- Bologna
- Venice
- Bari
- Florence