Milan, Leonardo3 Museum director goes on hunger strike against museum closure

He promised, and he is keeping his promise: Milan’s Leonardo3 Museum director Massimiliano Lisa has begun a hunger strike to save his museum from closure. “I start my hunger strike today,” he declared last March 1. “I reject the hostile act of the Milan City Council that wants to close the Leonardo3 Museum and make children cry. An act against the citizens of Milan and tourists. An act against the public interest. I also denounce the violence and arrogance of aldermen and mayor who, in order not to receive me, are forcing me into this form of protest. A hunger strike to take back our city and our dignity as citizens not respected, but constantly trampled upon.”

Director Lisa had detailed the origin of the issue in a lengthy interview granted last week to Finestre Sull’Arte: the museum in fact risks not seeing the renewal of the concession of its spaces (600 square meters in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, in the very center of Milan, just a few steps from Teatro alla Scala and Duomo, as well as Palazzo Marino, the seat of the City Council, in addition to the entrance to the gallery) following an administrative dispute that, according to Lisa, would be due to the fact that another entity (a’restaurant business) has shown interest in those spaces and in particular in the museum entrance that would lead to the Gallery’s upper floors, where there is a tourist walkway that allows visitors to see the surrounding area from above. “There is an irregularity on the roofs of the gallery related to a concession that was given without a call for bids, and the State Property Office of the City of Milan I think wants to throw us out in order to favor these gentlemen who are their friends,” Lisa bluntly told the microphones of TG3.

The affair has been going on since 2023 and led, in July 2024, to an order for the forfeiture of concessions for the use of museum spaces for the concessionaire (the Leonardo3 Museum occupies them by virtue of a collaborative relationship with the company that holds the concession): however, the matter ended up before the Lombardy Regional Administrative Court , which, last November, suspended the forfeiture order, which would have meant the museum’s eviction. The hearing on the merits will take place in April.

At the moment, the municipality has not yet taken a position. The only development is related to the initiative of Forza Italia’s group leader in Milan’s city council, Luca Bernardo, who announced his intention to submit a question for immediate answer in the city council to ask for clarification from the competent alderman. “It is unthinkable,” he said, “that a city like Milan should close such an important reality.” The Leonardo3 museum in 2024 recorded 270,000 visitors and is among the most visited museums in Milan: it is also a reality in which 25 employees work, and closing it would therefore also put as many families at risk.

Milan, Leonardo3 Museum director goes on hunger strike against museum closure

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.