European Standards Survey

National Overview 1.1-1.3 - Italy

1.1 General

i. Is there a national definition of 'Museum' in your country?

Yes

ii. Published definition:

'Under Consolidated Law on Cultural Property (D. L.vo 29.1099, n. 490, art. 99)a museum is 'any structure, irrespective of its name, organised to safeguard, enhance and make accessible cultural property collections' As this definition is very recent, it has not yet been taken into account by statistics on museums. All data presented in this section are therefore based on the definition of National Institute of Statistics: 'open-to-the public cultural institutions, that research, acquire, study, exhibit and enhance objects which are considered as material evidence of culture. They have functions of public interest, concerning conservation, scientific research, education and enhancement of cultural property lying within their competence' Istituto Nazionale di Statistica, Indagine statistica sui musei e le istituzioni similari, Roma, ISTAT, 1995, p. 11

iii. Is there national or state legislation governing the activities of museums in your country?

Yes

iv. Details:

state museums are governed by Law 29.10.1999, n. 490, articles 54, 98-100, 102-106, 111-117. Museums belonging to regional, provincial or municipal authorities are governed by Law 22.9.1960, n. 1080.

v. Do any museums in your country subscribe to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics?

50% or less

vi. Your comments in relation to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics usage in your country:

Museums are not obliged to subscribe to ICOM Code of Professional Ethics. Nevertheless, the principles established there are 'de facto' applied by the majority of public museums.

vii. Is there a body or organisation responsible for co-ordinating national museum documentation and information?

Yes

viii. Details:

The Istituto Nazionale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione is the national body responsible for cultural property information and documentation standards. It has to be stressed however that they are cataloguing standards regarding all kind of artefacts, irrespective of where they are located and how they are organised. Therefore they are not 'museum-oriented'. ICCD contact details are: Istituto Nazionale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione. via di S.Michele, 18 -00153 Roma. Director: Maria Luisa Polichetti Data management responsible: marco Lattanzi tel +30.06.58552226 fax +39.06.58332313 e mail lattanzi@iccd.beniculturali.it

1.2 Museum Types

i. By your own definition of museum how many are there in your country?

1.2.1 Public Museums

1.2.2 Private Museums

1.3 Additional Comments

State museums are branches of the peripheral offices of the Ministry of Culture (soprintendenze). Staff depends on the directorate general of administrative affairs while budget depends on the Ufficio centrale beni archeologici, architettonici, artistici e storici. Therefore state museums are not independent. As to museums run by regional, provincial and municipal authorities, the State retains responsibility for the protection and conservation with the relevant powers of control. However, the regions are responsible for those legislative and administrative aspects concerning the institution, organisation and the financing of regional, provincial and municipal museums and their different types of activity. Staff and budget depend on the local authority concerned.

Funded by the European Commission - DGX - Raphaël Programme