Luca Bergamo on Rome's Cultural Future Post-Pandemic

On April 30, 2020, Luca Bergamo, the deputy mayor of Rome, spoke about the city's cultural scene in the wake of the pandemic. He touched on various topics including live performances, drive-in cinemas, gentrification, and the necessity of aiding cultural workers. While he supported Minister Dario Franceschini's idea of a 'Netflix of culture,' he disagreed with the notion of charging admission to the Pantheon. Bergamo pointed out the importance of greater public involvement, mentioning the shutdown of cinemas and the cancellation of the Cinedrive initiative by CNA. He also noted the lack of support for freelancers and the omission of third-sector organizations from the initial Cura Italia decree. Rome has halted rent for cultural venues and announced multi-year funding of approximately 4.3 million euros. Bergamo called for a 'Cura-comuni' decree and the expansion of the Art Bonus to encompass the entire cultural sector.