Three Proposals to Reform Italy's Artbonus Tax Incentive

At the Galleria Borghese in Rome, Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini attended the 'Stati Generali Amici dei Musei e delle Gallerie' organized by the Associazione Amici degli Uffizi. The event focused on improving the Artbonus, a tax credit introduced in 2014 to encourage private donations to cultural heritage. Initially a three-year trial, it was made permanent in 2016. Donors receive a 65% tax credit deductible over three years. Despite generating significant funds, stakeholders argue the measure needs enhancement. Three proposals were presented: first, unify sponsorship tools and align with the French model, extending Artbonus to all beneficiaries without the three-year installment limit; second, increase the annual cap and extend the deduction period to five years, also including associations; third, strengthen the role of 'Friends of Museums' associations to consolidate donations into larger projects, citing the example of the Associazione Amici degli Uffizi which contributed €180,000 to restore Leonardo da Vinci's Adoration of the Magi. Participants included museum directors, Deputy Mayor Luca Bergamo, and legal advisor Lorenzo Casini.