MACRO Roma becomes Italy's first 'regime museum' under populist government

The MACRO (Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma) has been branded the first authentic 'regime museum' in post-war Italy by Artribune editor Massimiliano Tonelli. Under director Giorgio De Finis, the museum's October 2018 program features a dense schedule of small exhibitions, meetings, readings, and lessons, promoting an 'everyone is an artist' ethos that mirrors the populist and clientelist ideology of Italy's then-ruling 'giallo-verde' coalition (Five Star Movement and League). Tonelli criticizes the museum for adopting the 'one-person-one-vote' concept, offering free entry to inflate visitor numbers, and fostering conflicts of interest—such as board president Cesare Pietroiusti participating as an artist. The museum is accused of provincialism, focusing exclusively on Roman artists and failing to engage with national or international contexts. Tonelli also highlights intimidation of journalists, recalling an incident where De Finis blocked publication of an interview after Artribune published critical articles. The piece draws parallels between the museum's management and the government's tactics, including the use of social media to attack critics. The MACRO is described as a replicable 'experiment' that could set a precedent for other Italian cultural institutions under populist governance.