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# 81 JULY 18 , 2016
# 81 juLY 18 , 2016
collective and community role of cultural heritage are found for example in the
work of associations, of participated charity, of independent centers of culture,
of popular shareholding. All of these topics create a public-private relationship
towards the culture that goes far beyond
the issue of sponsorship. Exemplary is
what happened in Mantova, cultural capital of Italy for 2016. And even more in
Matera that, one year after the appointment of being the European Capital of
Culture in 2019, is experiencing a steady
growth of tourism (plus 140% attendance) and communication skills of the city.
All these signs of change can be helped
by reforms such as the Art Bonus, the
tax credit introduced in 2014 in favor
of investing in culture, the most decisive outcome of which is not so much and
not only in the 2,728 patrons with their
€ 62 million donations, mostly micro-patronage interventions. The most important outcome is the potentially disruptive approach between historical and
artistic heritage and the forces of the
society. There are companies that make
donations, or social groups who donate their time, energy and imagination:
this approach has within it the seeds of
a greater empowerment of communities
towards the cultural heritage, and the
seeds of the development of future very
promising creative and productive collaborations.
The above-mentioned enzymes may also
be helped by the museums reform, based on the necessary integration between historical scientific knowledge, rigor
in artifacts and art conservation, and management and entrepreneurial skills. In
this case, too, this integration opens the
door to a potential greater interpenetration between the world of protection
and the social and productive Italian people.
Culture is and will remain an important engine of world development: this
explains the European Parliament's commitment to its inclusion as eleventh priority of the Juncker plan aimed at reviving
the economy of the continent thanks to
an investment of 315 billion euro in favor
of the Member States.
The Italy that comes out of this report,
therefore, is a lively and active Italy, a
country that is already sowing the future,
looking ahead with courage without forgetting its history, that seizes the opportunities of green economy and digitization but does not forget to be a craftsman
country made up of small and medium
enterprises that draw their strength from
the wisdom of the territories, communities, their knowledge and their cohesion.
A country aware that its culture with ancient roots is now the best ticket to get
a leading role in a better future. If Italy is
Italy, the future is not our enemy. On the
contrary.
50 | WE THE ITALIANS
WE THE ITALIANS | 51
www.wetheitalians.com
www.wetheitalians.com