Meloni's government eyes 'Italianizing' cultural institutions: WashPo

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Aug 2023 19:35

Foreigners have for some time allowed Italy's most prestigious arts and museum institutions to flourish by bringing their own innovative touch to the industry.

Tourists take photos in front of Michelangelo's "David statue" in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy, March 28, 2023 (AP)

A report by the Washington Post on Monday revealed that the Italian government is moving to introduce new measures aimed at Italianizing high-ranking positions in the art gallery and museum industries.

For nearly a decade, foreigners have occupied some of the highest-ranking positions in Italy's landmark galleries, museums and opera houses.

But since Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni assumed the premiership, conservatives have been expressing a preference to hire more nationals as museum directors.

Foreigners have for some time allowed Italy's most prestigious arts and museum institutions to flourish by bringing their own innovative touch to the industry.

But as contracts are nearing their expiration date, foreigners are now waiting to see if there are any chances for renewal.

While some consider the government's plans as progressive, others argue that the measure risks a return to the cronyism and politicking that plagued Italian museums in the past.

Others also say that the move may revive fascism in the country.

“We are … smack dab in the middle of a neofascist revival,” historian Tomaso Montanari, a member of the Uffizi’s Gallery’s steering committee, told WashPo.

Meloni has dismissed on several occasions critics that labeled her a neofascist.

In her view, her measures are intended to give conservatives a voice in political climate dominated by the left.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano told WashPo he expected some foreigners to still run Italy’s cultural institutions, but he also raised to attention the necessity of establishing a "balance" in certain positions.

"In your opinion, would the French ever allow an American, or an Italian, to direct the Louvre?" he asked. "It would be very difficult."

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party and its right-wing allies won the general elections in Italy in October 2022.

Her victory marked the first of a neo-fascist since WW1 in Italy.

In May 2023, The Guardian reported, citing sources, that former chief executive Carlo Fuortes resigned as CEO of RAI broadcaster due to Meloni's government exerting pressure to "cancel Italy's antifascism footprints."

It added that left-leaning talkshow host Fabio Fazio and his co-presenter Luciana Littizzetto, a comedian known for her monologues tackling conservatives, left after their contracts for the popular Che Tempo Che Fa program were not renewed.

More departures are anticipated in the following months.

"With every change of government, there’s a change in governance at Rai," a source at the broadcaster pointed out, as cited by The Guardian.

"The only difference now is that it is more ruthless, whereas before it was perhaps a little bit more, shall we say, gentlemanly."

Fuortes, who left the state broadcaster a year before his term expired, was quickly replaced by the government-nominated Roberto Sergio, a Rai manager whose political opinion "changes with the wind" depending on who is in charge, according to a source.

Giampaolo Rossi, a former Rai board member endorsed by Meloni's Brothers of Italy neofascist party, has been appointed as director general.