Some of Italy’s leading cultural and political figures will this week descend on Rome to consolidate “general states of right-wing culture.” The event is intended to “promote and develop” something close to what Federico Mollicone, cultural strategist for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy, described for The Art Newspaper as a new Italian “collective imagination.”
The conference has not, in spite of reporting by la Repubblica, been organised by Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano—nor by his ministry—to establish “a new cultural hegemony of the right.” Francesco Giubilei, who is an advisor to Mr. Sangiuliano, highlighted that it has instead been established by “associations and publishing houses, private entities that have invited guests and supported all the costs of the initiative,” though Mr. Sangiuliano will be present to deliver a speech.
Start magazine insists the idea that “a better definition of right-wing culture is necessary, or at least useful, is certain, almost obvious,” not just because such a definition is currently “missing,” but also due to the fact that “the right is now in government in a leadership position.” Given this, the publication notes that this week’s conference will be “followed carefully.” The event organisers agree that the subject cannot be conquered in one day, noting that this is intended “to be the starting point of a path that we intend to pursue with future initiatives as well.”
They add:
For this reason, some proposals will emerge from the event to be developed with permanent working tables that we intend to promote by involving the territories and many other voices besides those already present at the Roman event.
Commenting on the Italian Imaginary project, Mr. Giubilei told The European Conservative:
The idea of the Italian nation was born long before the Italian state, which was achieved with unity in 1861. Remembering our identity does not mean closing ourselves in the past but looking to the future with solid foundations of values. In a historical moment characterised by an increasingly pervasive political correctness, by the cancel culture that wants to rewrite and erase our history, it becomes important to think of a new Italian Imaginary. The goal of our initiative is to develop a policy and organisation of Italian national culture.
Alongside Mr. Sangiuliano, who, since being named culture minister in October 2022, has sought to promote initiatives that he believes have “projected Italy onto the world,” a range of other speakers will address those present. These will include Gianmarco Mazzi, undersecretary of state to the ministry of culture, who has managed several artists and launched the Nazionale Italiana Cantanti project; journalist and author Marcello Veneziani, and television director Paolo Petrecca. The organisers note that “more than 70 of the leading figures in national culture, from art to cinema, from television to journalism, from cultural heritage to theater” will be in attendance. Their goal is “to create coordination among the various realities involved and also local administrators:
We believe it is necessary to promote and develop ideas and synergies to think about the Italian imaginary.
The event—admission to which is free—is being held in Rome this Thursday, April 6th. Find more information here.
