Milan culture chief urges Draghi to make museum reopening irreversible

On February 4, 2021, Filippo Del Corno, Milan's culture councillor, addressed Prime Minister Mario Draghi in an open letter published in Il Foglio, calling for culture to be a central focus in the nation's recovery efforts. He outlined five essential actions: completing the vaccination drive, overcoming the pandemic, addressing public concerns, revitalizing the country, and ensuring a permanent reopening of cultural institutions. Del Corno stressed the importance of safety in cultural spaces, cautioning against a fluctuating 'open and close' approach, especially after museums had been shuttered for over three months. Milan's reopening is set for February 9, with MuseoCity scheduled for March. He also supports longer museum hours, referencing the Uffizi's impressive 7,300 visitors in just six days, and asserts that cultural engagement is a fundamental right crucial for Italy's economic revival.