Italy’s right-wing government has announced plans to slash arts funding by a whopping €260 million ($312.8 million) per year. The cuts, which are being loudly opposed by Italy’s cultural leaders, would fall hardest on the Venice Film Festival, and would also have serious consequences for La Scala and the Venice Biennale, among others. “Workers’ organisations and actors’ unions in the Italian film industry have called for a strike, to be held on Friday, and they are urging theatres to follow suit.”