Italians working in cultural sector decry pandemic closures

More must be done to support the 300,000 people working in the cultural field, such as providing stable income and reopening spaces gradually, say protesters.

Milan, Italy – Art and cultural workers protested across Italy on Tuesday, marking a year since theatres, music venues, cinemas and cultural spaces shut their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic – closures which rendered jobless the 300,000 people working in the sector. A protest in front of the local seat of the central government in Milan began with a performance in which actors, singers and other stage professionals prepared behind the scenes for a show that never takes place. “This was a five-minute show that took nine hours to rehearse. We wanted to show what goes into preparations for a production,” Beatrice Parapini, a singer, actress and teacher who took part in the small act, told Al Jazeera.