Close to Remembrance Day, the Minister of Culture had spoken of a “moral duty” to finally give life to the National Holocaust Museum in Rome. A great tragedy “never justifiable in terms of history, ethics and morals”. Not yet two months have passed since then and the government follows up on Gennaro Sangiuliano’s impulse by approving an ad hoc bill with the economic endowments and some general operating criteria.
Surveillance at the MiC
In all respects, the story that has been dragging on for twenty years between ups and downs seems to be approaching a favorable epilogue. The provision provides that the Ministry of Culture takes part in the Holocaust Museum Foundation which is also entrusted with the management of the structure. Having obtained the yes of Parliament, the Foundation will be able to operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture which plans museum activities also taking into account the guidelines of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. For the construction of the Museum, the authorized expenditure amounts to 4 million euros for the current year 2023, 3 million euros for 2024, 3.050 million euros for 2025 and, starting from the year 2026, 50,000 euros per year.
Appropriations
The related expenses, as regards the expenses necessary for the establishment of the Museum, are provided for by means of a corresponding reduction in the allocation of the special capital account fund entered, for the purposes of the three-year budget 2023-2025, «Reserve and special funds» of the mission «Funds from restart” of the estimates of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Similarly for the 50,000 euros per year aimed at supporting the expenses necessary for the functioning of the Museum, starting from the year 2025.
Foundation born in 2008
“For the location of this structure, I will entrust and follow only the indications of the Jewish community”, Sangiuliano had anticipated at the time. Until now, a project by the architect Luca Zevi is known who has already made some formal steps and an area in Villa Torlonia, along via Nomentana. As mentioned, the idea of creating a place of extremely high symbolic value had ups and downs: and the Holocaust Museum Foundation was born in July 2008 precisely with the explicit mission of giving impetus to the construction of the national museum. “A structure of great common utility, above all for the numerous public activities dedicated to the Shoah, aimed at young people, teachers and Italian and foreign citizens, who will have a reference point there with highly specialized personnel”.
The other major cities of the world
According to the organizers of the project, its implementation will allow the capital of Italy to join the great cities of the world (Jerusalem, Washington, Berlin, London, Paris) which have museums dedicated to the Shoah. «The installations and the collection of documentation, curated by major contemporary historians, will allow visitors, teachers and students to get to know in depth what the Holocaust was».