Emilia Romagna Theatres, de Pascale challenges the government: “Declassified only for political choices”

Rimini, July 1, 2025 – The Santarcangelo dei teatri festival is among the most penalized. Score almost halved, in the evaluation of the Ministry of Culture, for the historic event. But it is not the only one that, by virtue of the severe judgments of the ministerial commission, risks losing a good part of the funds guaranteed so far by Rome. There are several theaters, foundations and institutions in Emilia-Romagna that risk the same fate as the Santarcangelo festival, after the evaluations of the ministry. Like the Teatro della Pergola directed by Stefano Massini, 'downgraded' amid controversy.

"Culture has nothing to do with this. The treatment reserved for culture in Emilia-Romagna is a political choice", attack the president of the Region Michele de Pascale and the councilor Gessica Allegni . The entire Democratic Party is in revolt, after the publication of the ministerial decree with the scores assigned to festivals and foundations, on the basis of which the contributions for the three-year period 2025-2027 will be decided.

And for Emilia-Romagna it is a bloodbath . The deputy Andrea Gnassi has already presented a question: "Minister Giuli should come and explain in the chamber the reasons for the cuts. They are the government's truncheons to culture".

De Pascale and Allegni go into the merits of the ministry's evaluations and attack: "The halving of the score for the Santarcangelo festival, one of the most famous at an international level, is disconcerting: -14.3 compared to the evaluation of the previous commission". This is the most sensational case, but not the only one.

Why " Ater Fondazione has a score lower by 5.3 on 2024”. And " Emilia Romagna Teatro (Ert) has seen its rating reduced by 4 points, from 30 to 26", in a section in which the Stabile di Torino dominates, with 32 points, followed by the Fondazione Teatro di Roma (29.5) and the Stabile di Napoli (29). Again: -4 points to the Teatro Due Parma , -6.5 to the production center Ravenna Teatro, -8 to the Fondazione delle Arti Solares. Festivals such as MicroMacro and Quinta Parete have been downgraded. The Teatro Sociale di Gualtieri is excluded.

“These results lead us to think - conclude de Pascale and Allegni - that the treatment reserved for Emilia-Romagna is not coincidental". And very probably "there will be requests for re-examination and appeals that could change the results. Even in the dance sector".

But "the Region - they promise - in the face of cuts in ministerial funds , will do its part to support the cultural entities unjustly hit". And as if the cuts from Rome were not enough , these are delicate days for Ert: the new management is at stake. On Monday the board of directors of the foundation should have approved the new position after interviews with the 6 candidates still in the running. There was no unanimity and an adjournment of the work was necessary. At the moment the most likely hypothesis seems to be a female diarchy (Elena di Gioia and Natalia di Iorio?), but the next few hours will be crucial to resolve the situation. Whoever arrives at the helm of the five regional theaters (Arena di Bologna, Storchi di Modena, Bonci di Cesena, Fabbri di Vignola and Dadà di Castelfranco) will still find the next season already planned by the outgoing director, Valter Malosti.