Spoleto street art controversy: new director denies plans to remove murals

A controversy erupted in Spoleto over the future of street art murals at Palazzo Collicola, part of the 'Collicola on the Wall' project initiated by former director Gianluca Marziani. New director Marco Tonelli, appointed in January 2019, was accused of planning to remove the works after statements made during a press conference. Local political group Lista per Spoleto, led by mayoral candidate Camilla Laureti, sent an open letter to Mayor Umberto De Augustinis and Culture Councillor Ada Urbani, arguing the murals have artistic and economic value estimated at €500,000. Artists cited include Sten Lex, Danilo Bucchi, Moneyless, Alo, Alberto Di Fabio, and Ob Queberry. Tonelli denied removal intentions, calling the controversy 'sterile and instrumental.' He stated many murals are deteriorating—losing color and developing mold—and questioned the appropriateness of filling an 18th-century palace with graffiti. Tonelli emphasized his priority is restoring Sol LeWitt's damaged wall drawing, a more significant artwork. He also noted that some artists contacted agreed the director has the right to revise the exhibition layout. The murals were created as temporary interventions, and Tonelli suggested they may not be worth restoring.