The First Mega Strike of the Italian Cultural Sector. Unions, Workers and Associations United to Change Cultural Work: Here Are the Demands

On June 12, Italy experienced its largest-ever national strike in the cultural sector, organized by major unions, collectives, and associations including Mi Riconosci?. Workers from museums, libraries, archives, theaters, and freelance artists walked out to demand dignified wages, enforcement of collective contracts, an end to false self-employment and volunteerism, a halt to funding cuts and military investments linked to artwashing, and new hiring at the Ministry of Culture. The strike closed numerous cultural institutions across Italy, including ten pavilions at the Venice Biennale, a floor of the Uffizi, and the National Museum of Italian Emigration in Genoa, marking the first such coordinated action in 50 years.

This strike matters because it represents a historic turning point for labor conditions in Italian cultural work, which has long suffered from precarity, low pay, and fragmented representation. By uniting diverse workers and linking local grievances to national policy demands, the movement signals a growing awareness and collective power that could reshape how cultural labor is valued and regulated. The involvement of the Venice Biennale and major state museums underscores the systemic nature of the crisis, making this a pivotal moment for cultural policy in Italy.