Franceschini: I would like Italy to be the first to reopen all places of culture

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said, "I do not want to cover myself behind the choice of other countries. However, as of today, theaters and cinemas are closed in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Portugal. But since Italy is Italy I would like us to be the first to reopen. The operation must be done neither with proclamations nor with announcements but by possible steps. It is an absolute priority.“ He added, ”In these months we have understood that the most dangerous places are those where you take off your mask: restaurants, bars, private homes. In the theaters and cinemas, already in the summer reopening, there were very strict safety measures that proved efficient: mask, spacing, hand sanitizing, sanitizing the premises. I have asked the Technical and Scientific Committee for an urgent meeting to propose the supplementary safety measures that the professional organizations are working on and will deliver to me tomorrow. I will then meet collegially with the government, because I am certainly not the one to decide on my own, and with the Cts to identify times and methods. But I think that theaters and cinemas, with strict and appropriate measures, are safer than other venues already open today."

Continuing on the issue of the closure of performing arts venues, the minister commented, "The closure of theaters, cinemas and music halls was a pain, but inevitable. We have tried to accompany with extraordinary measures, crossing this desert, the many worlds related to cinema, theater, and music by supporting businesses and workers. A reality that has never known social shock absorbers has had unemployment benefits for employees and supports for the many precarious or intermittent workers. A long list of interventions that are not enough, I know perfectly well-I am reiterating them consistently for the new Ristori Decree. As long as they are not working, it is necessary to support the workers in the sector beyond the type of contract they had. But now we need to think about reopening."

Regarding the reopening of museums in the yellow zones, he said that “the reopenings have been gradual because each museum has different characteristics to ensure the necessary security: spacing, quotas on numbers, masks, sanitization of environments, diversified access,” and “it was chosen not to open on weekends” because “on weekends there could be crowding problems, as seen at the Vatican Museums.” “We are reasoning so that progressively, under conditions of maximum security, we go to the reopening of all the places of culture,” he concluded.

Finally, Minister Franceschini stressed, "I believe that Italy, more than other countries, needs like oxygen to return to having a cultural offer. President Draghi said it well. Italian cities without theaters and cinemas and squares without music are sadder: so Italy is not Italy. Just as an exception was made for bookstores, which were included among the first services to reopen for an obvious cultural reason, I hope the same reasoning can be made for performing arts venues."

Franceschini: I would like Italy to be the first to reopen all places of culture

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