Luca Bergamo on Rome's Cultural Overhaul: Interview with Deputy Mayor

Luca Bergamo, recently promoted to Deputy Mayor of Rome alongside his role as Councillor for Culture, discusses the city's cultural strategy in a wide-ranging interview. He recounts his entry into politics in 1994 under Mayor Francesco Rutelli, focusing on organizational reform. Bergamo highlights the 'Deliberation 126,' a plan to restructure Rome's cultural institutions, creating the Polo del Contemporaneo (contemporary art hub) under Palaexpo, encompassing Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Macro, Pelanda, and Ara Pacis. The Teatro di Roma expands to manage multiple venues. Bergamo defends the division of culture and tourism portfolios, criticizes over-reliance on tourism, and addresses controversies around the Stadio della Roma, the Parco del Colosseo, and private foundations like Alda Fendi and Cerasi. He emphasizes the need for bureaucratic reform and a shift from marketing-driven culture to civic engagement.