The Italian museum scene

“Pro Spectatore”

Bologna 25-27 March 2004

Margherita Sani - IBC

Factors for orientating onesef1. Definition of a museum

2. Norms and rules

3. Figures

4. The actors

5. Existence of a museum policy (national, local)

6. Status and role of the profession

7. The existence of an accreditation system

1. Definition of “museum”

Is there a definition of “museum”?

Definition of “museum”Italy and the UK

Italy - Code of cultural heritage 2004:“A permanent structure which acquires, preserves,catalogues and displays cultural objects with aims ofeducation and study”

Museums Association- UK"Museums enable people to explore collections forinspiration, learning and enjoyment. They areinstitutions that collect, safeguard and make accessibleartefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust forsociety."

Is a definition important?

For a long time no definition of museums in thelegislation (the 1939 Act does not refer to museums, butto collections)

Museums= collectionsbuildings

places where collections are kept, as opposed to placeswhere culture is produced.

2. Norms and rules

Is the system run by legislation or otherrules (i.e. professional rules, code of ethics)?

2. Italy: Norms and rules

Law 1089/ 1939 “For the protection of historic andartistic artefacts “ enforced until 1999

PROTECTION vs. ENHANCEMENT,PROMOTION

The legislation conceived for the protection of theheritage transferred to museums without furtherthinking of their mission

The Italian anomaly

No independent legal status of museums (littleautonomy: financial, organisational, etc.)

No definition of museums in the legislation until1999

No recognition of a museum as an institutionMuseums= places where collections are kept, asopposed to places where culture is produced

The 1990’sInnovation in museums as part of the overallprocess of reforming the Italian publicadministration

- Simplification of the administrative procedures- - Introduction of new organisational forms and

managerial tools for museums

- Debate on devolution to local authorities

- The user/citizen is central

Changes in the legislative framework 1998-2004

Protection vs. Enhancement/Promotion

Minimum Standards – The accreditation system

Changes in the legislative framework 2001-2004

2001- Amendment in the Italian ConstitutionTitolo V-Protection exclusive legislative right of theState- Enhancement/promotion exclusive legislativeright of the Regions

Code of cultural heritage 2004Comprehensive, overarching act on the culturalheritage- Cooperation State/other authorities

Does legislation really matter?

3. The figures

MUSEUMS IN ITALY 1996

TOTAL 4120

MUNICIPALITIES 1735 42,1%PRIVATE 707 17,2%STATE 551 13,4%

CHURCH 535 13,0%UNIVERSITIES 250 6,0%OTHERS 175 4,3%REGIONS 90 2,1%PROVINCES 77 1,9%

Figures can be misleading ...

Back to the definition …

“An open air museum”

“Italy: an open air museum” (Quatremére deQuincy – 1796)

“… The real museum of Rome is … made upof temples, obelisks, arches, …but neverthelessof places, mountains, … streets, ruins, … andthe relationships between all these objects, thememories, the local traditions, the comparisonsthat can be made only in the place itself.”

The peculiarity of the Italian museum context

“Thanks to a special kind of link the collection siinscribed within the building and the buildingwithin the city and these three forms of museummutually relate to each other” (André Chastel)

The context – environmentThe buildingThe collection

Museums and the heritageMuseums and the “territory”

4. The actors

Who are the actors?

Centralisation vs. devolution

What is the remit of the State?

And of the other authorities ?

What is the relationship public-private?

What is the involvement of the “civil society”?

Is there a professional association?

4. The main actors in Italy

The Ministry for Cultural activities and heritage(1975) (1998)

The Regions (1970) – devolution of the 1970’s

The Provinces

The Municipalities

The Church (agreements with the Italian State 1985,1996 to foster co-operation

Ministry for CulturalHeritage and Activities

General Directorates

- General Directorate for artistic,historical and etnnological heritage

- Directorate for Built Heritage andLandscape

- Directorate for Contemporary Art andArchaeology

- Directorate for Archaeology- Directorate for Archives- Directorate for Libraries- Directorate for Cinema- Directorate for Performing arts

Central Institutes and SpecialSuperintendencies

- Central Institute for Catalogue andDocumentation

- Central Institute for Restoration- Central Institute for Libraries- Central Institute for Archives- National Libraries- Gallery of modern and

contemporary art, Rome- Museum of Egyptian antiquities,

Turin- ….- …..-

Peripheral Offices

- Superintendencies for Built Heritageand Landscape- Superintendencies for Historic,Artistic, Ethnological Heritage- Superintendencies for Archaeology- Superintendencies for archives

National AdvisoryCouncil

Carabinieri for theProtection of theHeritage

General Secretariat

RegionalSuperintendencies

Museums andother institutionsfor conservation

5. The existence ofa museum policy

Is there an explicit museum policy?

Where is it to be found?

Is it conceived at national/local level?

Is it co-ordinated with other policies (social,etc.)?

Does legislation influence policy?

Museum policy in Italy

Implicit museum policy

Some co-ordinated actions State/otherauthorities

State/national museums

Regions/local authority museums

The “mission statement”

6. Status and role of the profession

Slow development of a “professionalcommunity”

Scholars rather tahn museum professionals

Training in museum studies

Non existence of a professional association

7. Existence of an accreditation system

DLGS. 112/1998

MINIMUM STANDARDS

DEVOLUTION OF THE MANAGEMENT OFMUSEUMS AND OTHER CULTURAL ASSETSTO LOCAL AUTHORITIES, PROVIDED THEYCOMPLY WITH SPECIFIC STANDARDS ANDGUARANTEE:

- Access- Safety- Risk prevention

The accreditation system 2004

2001 Guidelines by Ministry

2002-2004 Accreditation systems developedby the Regions

LombardiaEmilia RomagnaVeneto…

Further work ...

www.beniculturali.it

www.regione.nameoftheregion.it

www.regione.emilia-romagna.it

www.culturalpolicies.net