Italian live performance sector in crisis over funding allocations and commission resignations
On July 4, 2025, the culture departments from six regions in Italy—Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia, Sardinia, Toscana, Umbria, and Valle d'Aosta—called for the disbandment of the Theater and Multidisciplinary Commissions, citing a lack of transparency. They urged for a reassessment of appeals according to Decreto Direttoriale n. 691 dated June 19, 2025, as well as a negotiation table concerning FNSV parameters. This demand came after the resignation of three members from the Theater Commission and fund allocations on July 2. An online assembly hosted by Vogliamo Tutt'Altro on July 7 drew over a thousand participants, including former commissioners who expressed concerns over prioritizing economic metrics over artistic merit. Affected parties have 15 days to seek a review.
Key facts
- Six Italian regions demanded dissolution of Theater and Multidisciplinary Commissions on July 4, 2025.
- Three Theater Commission members resigned on June 19, 2025, citing irreconcilable differences.
- Over 1,000 participants joined the July 7 online assembly by Vogliamo Tutt'Altro.
- Tomasz Kireńczuk reported a drastic score reduction for Santarcangelo Festival.
- Commissioner Marco Lepre declined an invitation to the Santarcangelo Festival for dialogue.
- Allegations of unqualified commissioners: merchants and horse experts on Theater Commission.
- Paolo Stratta flagged potential conflicts of interest in the Circus Commission.
- Affected entities have 15 days to request a review; appeals may freeze funding.
- Kireńczuk called for return to FUS system over FNSV.
- Emilia-Romagna announced regional funds to offset cuts for ERT and Santarcangelo Festival.
Entities
Artists
- Tomasz Kireńczuk
- Chiara Bersani
- Christian Raimo
- Paolo Stratta
- Dino Sommadossi
- Ilaria Portas
- Jessica Allegni
- Michele Di Pascale
- Massimiliano Fedriga
- Angelo Pastore
- Alberto Cassani
- Carmelo Grassi
- Alessandro Massimo Maria Voglino
- Marco Lepre
- Luigi Rispoli
- Gianpaolo Savorelli
- Sebastiano Taddei
- Gianluca Cavedo
- Laura Bevione
Institutions
- Fondo Nazionale per lo Spettacolo dal Vivo (FNSV)
- Commissione Teatro
- Commissione Multidisciplinare
- Commissione Danza
- Commissione Musica
- Commissione Circo
- Vogliamo Tutt'Altro
- Teatro di Roma
- Festival di Santarcangelo
- ERT – Emilia Romagna Teatro
- Centrale Fies
- Cirko Vertigo
- Conferenza Stato-Regioni
- Artribune
Locations
- Campania
- Emilia-Romagna
- Puglia
- Sardinia
- Toscana
- Umbria
- Valle d'Aosta
- Santarcangelo
- Rome
- Bologna
- Livorno
- Genoa
- Dro
- Bari
- Lecce
- Palermo
- Cagliari
- Sassari
- Italy
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary