Last 16th July, in the marvelous venue of Palazzo Barberini in Rome, the meeting of the Civita association took place. The non-profit organization, founded twenty years ago by a group of companies, research bodies and universities, represents a unique reality in Europe and a reference point in the national debate on cultural heritage. Various themes were dealt with.
Great importance was given to the relation between the cultural and economic value of the Italian heritage. President of Civita Antonio Maccanico pointed out in a message that “the cultural heritage not has only a moral and spiritual value, which has to be defended rigorously, but it also has a relevant economic value”. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize its strategic importance as an attracting and promoting factor for the country, also for the development of other productive sectors. Economic valorization and cultural valorization are in function of each other.
Yet, expenditure in the sector is a modest share of the State balance, lower than many other European countries against a much greater heritage. Minister Bondi himself stressed how there is a problem concerning resources “because the political class tends to underestimate the role of culture in the development of the country” and admits that the Ministry for Cultural Heritage is often considered “second class” to others.
According to minister Bondi, the solution to the revival of the sector lies in the cooperation and autonomous management of the cultural heritage, through the collaboration between government, local and private bodies, it being understood that “safeguarding cultural heritage is always incumbent on the State, as ruled by the Constitution”.
According to Secretary-General of Civita Gianfranco Imperatori, “it is a challenge that must find its realization in politics, especially in a federalist perspective that risks, if badly administered, increasing centrifugal drives”.
Indeed, the novelty of federalism is already present in the Italian panorama. The need for a real autonomy of government for the regions is ineludible. However, such orientation will introduce also a redistribution of resources according to the real productive potential of territories. The cultural sector, which has always relied on state subsidies, will receive resources from the regions, with obvious risks for the regions that are less capable of dealing with the various needs of the sector. Therefore, what is needed is a careful assessment of the policies to be adopted in order to maintain an adequate level of funding. So the confrontation and dialogue board with the regions proposed by Bondi will be well accepted.
In such a complex context, the importance of the role of the private sector has been relaunched. In the front line for instance, there are interventions of institutions belonging to the third sector. Civita, Fai, WWF, have been in the front line for years for the safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage. But we cannot forget the vital contribute of bank foundations, which have supported the sector both with funds and with the development of extremely important projects. For instance, bank foundations are responsible for the constitution of cultural districts, true engine of the change towards a culture that is increasingly connected to the economy of regions.
As pointed out by president of Acri Giuseppe Guzzetti, it is necessary to keep in mind that “now that the ineludible processes of globalization, besides becoming missed opportunities, risk causing, if not adequately governed, negative consequences at a local level, especially in terms of memory loss, it is increasingly important that the public – as far as what falls under its competence – as much as the private – by intervening in subsidiary terms where it can and must – act in order to incentivize and support the growth of territories, favouring their possible development. In other words in harmony with the environment, with culture and with the resources that are available”.
However, the breakthrough carried out by private and non-profit organizations, cannot make us forget how important the intervention of the State is. Without the commitment of the State in these sectors we risk losing chances for development and growth.
Therefore, in conclusion, the need to activate synergies between public and private was pointed out, but with the awareness that public commitment in this field cannot be replaced. Furthermore, it was stressed how important it is to have a strong presence of the state in education, research and university, in the support of companies that carry out researches and produce innovation.

(translated by Giorgina Arcuri)