Italian museums at a crossroads over private management of ancillary services
The Italian Ministry of Culture is facing a strategic choice regarding the management of ancillary services (audioguides, guided tours, bookshops, etc.) in state museums. Since the Ronchey law, these services have been concessioned to private operators, improving quality but leading to an oligopolistic market. After a period of stagnation and legal uncertainty exacerbated by COVID-19, four options are on the table: maintaining the status quo with Consip tenders adjusted to recent court rulings; a statist approach where the Ministry or state-controlled entities manage services directly; deepening public-private partnerships with greater private investment and risk-sharing; or diversifying the market by extending tenders to smaller museums and encouraging local businesses. The article, written by Stefano Monti of Monti&Taft, argues that the statist option would reverse progress, while the other two offer different visions for the future of Italian museums.
Key facts
- The Italian Ministry of Culture must decide on the management of ancillary services in state museums.
- The Ronchey law allowed private concession of services like audioguides, guided tours, and bookshops.
- The market has become an oligopoly with a few leading companies.
- A period of stagnation followed the initial wave of concessions.
- Recent tenders via Consip S.p.A. showed renewed attention to visitors and technology.
- Legal appeals and COVID-19 have created uncertainty.
- Four possible strategies are outlined: status quo, statist, deeper private partnership, or market diversification.
- Stefano Monti, partner at Monti&Taft, authored the analysis.
Entities
Institutions
- Italian Ministry of Culture
- Consip S.p.A.
- Monti&Taft
- Artribune
- La Repubblica
- Italian state museums
- Codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio
Locations
- Italy