The government is working to make cultural spending tax-deductible like much healthcare spending already is, officials said Tuesday. Deducting individual cultural consumption, even in an optional form, as is the case for health expenditure, is the possibility envisaged by a bill announced by ruling rightwing Brothers of Italy (FdI) deputy Senate whip Raffaele Speranzon. He said the culture committees of the House and Senate, as well as Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and Deputy Economy Minister Maurizio Leo are working on the draft legislation. The aim is to "nurture the consumption of culture", explained Speranzon, who linked the initiative to the Venice Film Festival which is set to open Wednesday and run until September 7. "It's a very important theme that it is right to relaunch now that the international cultural spotlight is on Venice," he said. Source: Ansa News Agency