CoopCulture President Defends Private Sector Role in Italian Museum Services

Giovanna Barni, president of CoopCulture, pushes back against recent statements by Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini suggesting a return to state-run management of supplementary museum services. In an interview with Artribune, Barni argues that private operators have brought professionalism, innovation, and international standards to Italian museums since the Ronchey Law. She distinguishes between formal and substantive levels, noting that the public alternative Ales S.p.A. is not viable under current cultural heritage codes. Barni criticizes the bipolar attitude of the ministry: mendicant toward private patrons but inquisitorial toward private service providers. She refutes accusations of profiteering, citing unfounded claims about the Colosseum exhibition surcharge, and emphasizes that private operators generate economies of scale that sustain services even in smaller museums. Barni warns that excluding private partners would lead to a loss of well-being for the community and hinder the development of new participation models in cultural heritage valorization. She calls for a collaborative approach aligned with the Faro Convention, integrating private expertise in technology, marketing, and management alongside public strategic oversight. The interview highlights ongoing tensions in Italy's cultural policy regarding the balance between public control and private efficiency.