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Three members resign from scientific committee of Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome over political use of museum

institutional · 2026-04-26

Three members of the Scientific Committee of the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna (GNAM) in Rome resigned on October 9, 2024, protesting the use of the museum for a political event. Federica Muzzarelli, Augusto Roca, and Stefania Zuliani cited the presentation of Italo Bocchino's book "Perché l'Italia è di destra – Contro le bugie della sinistra" on October 3, 2024, attended by Senate President Ignazio La Russa, as a "manifestation of a partisan nature" inappropriate for a state institution. The resignations follow months of tensions, including an appeal against the renunciation of the Lonzi Archive, protests over a Futurism exhibition, and the reporting of dissenting employees by director Renata Cristina Mazzantini to the Ministry of Culture. The CGIL union condemned the director's actions. A letter of support for the employees was signed by numerous artists, curators, and academics. The situation highlights ongoing conflicts between the Italian government and the cultural sector.

Key facts

  • Three members of the Scientific Committee resigned on October 9, 2024.
  • Resignees: Federica Muzzarelli (University of Bologna), Augusto Roca (Sapienza University of Rome), Stefania Zuliani (University of Salerno).
  • Protest against presentation of Italo Bocchino's book on October 3, 2024, at GNAM.
  • Senate President Ignazio La Russa attended the book presentation.
  • Director Renata Cristina Mazzantini reported dissenting employees to the Ministry of Culture.
  • Previous controversies: renunciation of Lonzi Archive, problematic Futurism exhibition.
  • CGIL union criticized director's reporting of employees.
  • A letter of support for employees was signed by many cultural figures.

Entities

Artists

  • Italo Bocchino
  • Ignazio La Russa
  • Renata Cristina Mazzantini
  • Federica Muzzarelli
  • Augusto Roca
  • Stefania Zuliani
  • Donatella Landi
  • Myriam Laplante
  • Ida Panicelli
  • Cecilia Casorati
  • Mario Pieroni
  • Dora Stiefelmeier
  • Alvin Curran
  • Adrian Paci
  • Cesare Pietroiusti
  • Claudio Libero Pisano
  • Fiamma Montezemolo
  • Donatella Spaziani
  • Cristina Dinello Cobianchi
  • Bruna Esposito
  • Gian Maria Tosatti
  • Anna Cestelli Guidi
  • Bartolomeo Pietromarchi
  • Paolo Canevari
  • Maria Grazia Messina
  • Carla Subrizi
  • Bruno Di Marino
  • Raffaele Gavarro
  • Antonello Tolve
  • Gioacchino Pontrelli
  • Massimo Mininni
  • Giovanna Defeo
  • Paola Ugolini
  • Ilaria Freccia
  • Rossella Caruso
  • Anna Muscardin
  • Roberto Piloni
  • Flavia Matitti
  • Beatrice Peria
  • Salvatore Golino
  • Ernani Paterra
  • Dalma Frascarelli
  • Mattia Cassalini
  • Vera Maglioni
  • Adelaide Cioni
  • Paolo Ristonchi
  • Tiziana Lo Porto
  • Lara Limongelli
  • Arianna Antoniutti
  • Daniela Cotimbo
  • Gianlorenzo Chiaraluce
  • Francesco Cascino
  • Nicolas Martino
  • Donato Piccolo
  • Simone Cametti
  • Micol di Veroli
  • Fabio Giorgio Alberti
  • Monica Micheli
  • Iginio De Luca
  • Sabrina Vedovotto
  • Sandro Mele
  • Barbara Martuscello
  • Anahi Mariotti
  • Ilaria Bussoni
  • Lori Adragna
  • Cristina Cusani
  • Davide Dormino
  • Giulia Iacolutti
  • Caterina Pecchioli
  • Federica Pecci Ruggieri
  • Adriana Rispoli
  • Filippo Riniolo
  • Fabiola Fiocco
  • Stefano Cerio
  • Giulia Giaume

Institutions

  • Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna (GNAM)
  • Ministero della Cultura (MIC)
  • CGIL
  • Secolo d'Italia
  • Università degli Studi di Bologna
  • Università La Sapienza di Roma
  • Università degli Studi di Salerno
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy

Sources