Museum ticket prices will rise to protect art from climate activists, says Italy's culture minister

The price of admission to Italian museums and art galleries may increase to fund increased security as climate activists continue to target priceless works of art, according to its culture ministry.

Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano made the announcement following a climate protest where four activists dumped about 20 pounds of flour on a BMW art car painted by Andy Warhol in Milan.

“The ever more frequent attacks and outrages against our artistic and cultural heritage force us to rethink and reinforce the levels of their protection,” Sangiuliano said, according to the Times of London.

“The senseless and gratuitous violence targeting paintings, installations, works and structures of our museums and galleries drives us to take immediate measures, starting with the installation of glass screens for all paintings.”

But Sangiuliano said the cost of the sweeping upgrades was straining the ministry’s budget and “unfortunately, will require an increase in the cost of entrance tickets.”

He contended the “enormous heritage” was worth defending.

Activists looking to draw attention to climate change and environmental destruction have recently turned to attacking famous works of art, usually with food.

The first notable incident was when two activists with Just Stop Oil threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at London’s National Gallery before super gluing themselves to the wall.

German authorities are investigating whether they can prosecute the climate protesters who threw mashed potatoes at Cloud Monet’s painting Meules for property damage, according to ARTNews. As in many cases, the painting was not damaged but the frame was.