Rethinking public function: private actors and collective benefit in Italian cultural policy

Stefano Monti argues that the traditional concept of public function in Italy is outdated and limits collaboration between public and private sectors in culture. He defines public function as actions for collective benefit carried out by public entities, rooted in a dichotomy between private self-interest and public duty. However, he observes that private actors increasingly pursue social value, not just profit, and that prosocial behaviors can generate both collective and private returns. Monti cites examples from the US where employers provide green cards and schooling for key employees, not out of statutory obligation but to attract talent. In Italy, such practices are rarer because public services are delegated to the state, reducing private proactivity. He questions why private cultural entrepreneurs are expected to invest their own resources in public functions—like running museums—while paying fees to the public administration, whereas public entities receive dedicated funding. Monti proposes replacing 'public function' with 'collective function' to recognize that private actors can serve the common good while pursuing their interests. He calls for incentives for cultural entrepreneurs who invest time, expertise, and capital to improve knowledge quality and quantity. The article concludes that as long as Italy views private as selfish and public as welfare-oriented, collaboration will remain slow and bureaucratic.