Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to open JRR Tolkien exhibition

Meloni’s involvement highlights government’s growing interest in shaping output of Italy’s cultural institutions

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, will personally open a new exhibition about the Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien at Rome’s National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art on Wednesday, highlighting her far-right government’s growing interest in shaping the output of the country’s cultural institutions.

The exhibition, which, according to La Repubblica, is being funded by Italy’s culture ministry to the tune of €250,000 (£218,000), was announced by the culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, to the youth wing of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party in July as a “gift” to its leader.