In March 2020, prominent Italian artists and cultural institutions launched a spontaneous social media campaign titled #iorestoacasa (I stay home) to encourage the public to limit social contact and slow the spread of coronavirus. The campaign was endorsed by Culture Minister Dario Franceschini and gained rapid traction across the country.
Artists and Public Figures
Among the musicians, actors, and entertainers participating in the initiative were Jovanotti, Ligabue, Fiorello, Paolo Sorrentino, Amadeus, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Tiziano Ferro, Antonella Clerici, Cristiana Capotondi, Francesca Archibugi, Beppe Fiorello, Enrico Lucci, and the band Pinguini Tattici Nucleari. Their participation amplified the message to younger audiences, which Minister Franceschini highlighted in a statement thanking the musicians, filmmakers, and entertainers for promoting the campaign on social platforms.
Museums Share Collections Online
Numerous Italian museums responded by posting images of their masterpieces to social media, inviting the public to explore their collections from home. Participating institutions included the Royal Museums of Turin, Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Uffizi Gallery, the Royal Palace of Naples, the Egyptian Museum, Palazzo Barberini, the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome, the Archaeological Museum of Cagliari, the Archaeological Park of Campi Flegrei, the Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, Capodimonte, the Omero Museum in Ancona, the National Gallery of Umbria, and the Museum of San Martino.
Frequently asked questions
Who initiated the #iorestoacasa campaign?
The campaign arose spontaneously on social media and was subsequently promoted by Culture Minister Dario Franceschini as an official public health messaging effort.
Which museums participated in sharing their collections online?
Major institutions including the Uffizi Gallery, Vatican Museums (Colosseum), the Egyptian Museum, and museums in Naples, Venice, Rome, and other Italian cities posted images of their artworks to encourage public engagement from home.
What was the campaign’s primary goal?
The #iorestoacasa campaign aimed to encourage Italians to remain at home and limit social contact in order to reduce coronavirus transmission during the pandemic.
