Venice graphic studios distribute fake banknotes to protest cultural funding crisis

A group of graphic design studios in Venice has kicked off a project called 'Money Must Be Made,' aiming to protest the economic struggles intensified by the cancellation of major events like the 2020 Architecture Biennale. Spearheaded by Grafiche Veneziane, the last typography in the area, this initiative includes contributions from various studios such as bruno, Livio Cassese, and others. They designed eight humorous banknotes, including a 187-euro note referencing the 2019 acqua alta, a 122-euro note, and a 600-euro note featuring magician Silvan, symbolizing the lack of government support for cultural workers. Project manager Filippo Ranchio highlighted the need for continuous investment in culture. Their manifesto can be found online and has garnered over 300 endorsements from cultural professionals.