ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Rai launches cultural programming for students during Italy's coronavirus lockdown

digital · 2026-04-27

On March 7, Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini tweeted a call for cultural programming amid COVID-19 shutdowns, prompting Rai to introduce a new schedule tailored for educators and students. "Le parole della settimana," featuring author Dacia Maraini, is set to air on Raitre at 8:20 PM on March 14. Additionally, Rai5 will present opera and theater performances, including "Cavalleria Rusticana" on March 12. To commemorate Raphael's 500th anniversary, the documentary "Raffaello. Il mito e la modernità" will be broadcast on March 20. Starting March 9, Rai Storia will air "Viva la Storia" every weekday at 3 PM, while Rai Cultura will provide supplementary materials at www.raicultura.it/storia/ and launch "Scuola@casa" with lessons for Maturità exams.

Key facts

  • Minister Dario Franceschini tweeted on March 7 calling for cultural programming on TV
  • Rai launched new programming for teachers and students during lockdown
  • Raitre airs 'Le parole della settimana' with Dacia Maraini on March 14 at 8:20 PM
  • Rai5 broadcasts opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana' on March 12, performed in Matera in 2019
  • Documentary 'Raffaello. Il mito e la modernità' airs March 20 for Raphael's 500th death anniversary
  • Rai Storia airs 'Viva la Storia' weekdays from March 9 at 3 PM, 24 episodes with historians
  • Rai Cultura offers web resources at raicultura.it/storia/ and raicultura.it/speciali/scuola2020/
  • Rai Cultura and Rai Scuola produce ten episodes of 'Scuola@casa' from March 9
  • New Maturità exam lessons include art history with 'Italia, viaggio nella bellezza' (with MiBACT) and Claudio Strinati's lessons

Entities

Artists

  • Dacia Maraini
  • Alessandro Barbero
  • Claudio Strinati
  • Raffaello Sanzio

Institutions

  • Rai
  • Raitre
  • Rai5
  • Rai Storia
  • Rai Cultura
  • Rai Scuola
  • MiBACT
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Italy
  • Matera

Sources