
Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano warned Sunday that ticket prices will be higher following recent protests by climate activists who have «attacked» works of art in several countries around the world.
«The continuous attacks and outrages that increasingly occur to the detriment of our cultural heritage force us to rethink and strengthen the levels of protection in which they are protected,» the minister has assured.
In this sense, he has indicated that «the senseless and gratuitous violence that is directed against paintings, installations, works and structures of our museums and galleries» will lead to take «immediate measures, starting with covering all the paintings with glass.»
«Considering the enormous heritage to be protected, therefore, the intervention will represent a considerable cost for the coffers of the Ministry and the entire nation and that, unfortunately, can only provide for an increase in the cost of the entrance ticket,» Sangiuliano has explained.
Thus, the head of the cultural portfolio has regretted that «the indignation of a few violent» falls «on the Italians and, in particular, on those who want to go to see a good exhibition,» reports the Adnkronos agency.
Several activists threw flour on Thursday at a car designed by Andy Warhol in the late 1970s that was on display in Milan. In Rome, members of the group splashed a painting by Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh with pea soup earlier this month.
In recent weeks, protests have taken place in museums in several cities around the world, with incidents in Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain.