Italy's new guidelines for public-private cultural heritage partnerships

The Italian Ministry of Culture's Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage has published new guidelines on special public-private partnerships for cultural institutions and sites. The document establishes a framework for co-planning and co-management, allowing private entities to participate in strategic programming and management of cultural assets while keeping them under public control. Key innovations include framing these partnerships as gratuitous contracts outside public procurement rules, enabling private operators to generate economic returns without public financial outlay. The guidelines specify that partnerships can cover both enhancement activities and management for public enjoyment, but exclude ancillary services like security and ticketing. They particularly target underused or disused heritage sites, as seen in pilot projects at Piscina Mirabilis in Campi Flegrei, the Serre Borboniche at the Royal Palace of Caserta, archaeological parks in Sibari and Crotone, educational activities at Pompeii, and ongoing initiatives at Castello Carlo V in Lecce, the Lazio National Museums Directorate, and Castello di Miramare in Trieste. The guidelines emphasize horizontal subsidiarity and aim to address contemporary issues like educational poverty, climate change, and digital divide.