Approved in January 2019 after an extended parliamentary session, Italy’s budget law for that year included measures affecting cultural institutions, the arts, spectacle venues, and heritage protection across the country.
Hiring and Institutional Support
The budget authorized personnel recruitment at several cultural institutions. The National Academy of the Lincei could hire permanent staff during 2019–2021, while the Accademia della Crusca expanded by three non-managerial positions through competitive selection. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage (Mibac) was authorized to hire non-managerial staff, with plans for 1,000 positions in Pay Grade II and III roles beginning in 2020 and 2021. In 2019, the ministry could fill vacancies through existing graduate lists from public selection procedures. The Biblioteca italiana per ciechi “Regina Margherita” in Monza received an additional one million euro annually through 2021.
Arts Funding and Cultural Initiatives
The budget allocated three million euros each for 2019 and 2020, and one million euros annually from 2021 onwards, to promote contemporary Italian art abroad. The Unified Fund for Spectacle (Fus) increased by eight million euros. Funding for opera and symphonic foundations totaled 12.5 million euros, while 2 million euros supported Matera as European Capital of Culture 2019, and 3 million euros backed Parma as Italian Capital of Culture 2020. Cultural initiatives in earthquake-damaged areas received 3 million euros. The film and audiovisual development fund received 4 million euros, contemporary art projects in urban peripheries received 2 million euros, and applied arts promotion (fashion, design, graphics) received 3.5 million euros. UNESCO-protected sites received one million euros for enhancement projects, and cultural heritage digitalization received 4 million euros.
Concert Tickets and Heritage Protection
From July 1, 2019, admission tickets to performances in venues with capacity exceeding 5,000 spectators became nominative (named). Private, non-commercial ticket sales remained permitted if priced at or below face value. The requirement did not apply to opera, symphonic, chamber music, ballet, theater, jazz, dance, or contemporary circus performances. The budget introduced fire prevention provisions for cultural institutions and sites under the Cultural Heritage Code, and authorized a 240-million-euro spending limit for culture cards distributed to all Italian residents turning 18 in 2019. Ovidian celebrations received 700,000 euros from unspent 2017–2018 allocations, with committee operations extended through December 31, 2019.
Frequently asked questions
When did named concert tickets become mandatory?
Named tickets for performances in venues with capacity over 5,000 spectators became mandatory from July 1, 2019, though private, non-commercial sales at or below face value remained permitted.
Which cultural institutions received new hiring authorization?
The National Academy of the Lincei, the Accademia della Crusca, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage received authorization to hire permanent and non-managerial staff during the 2019–2021 period.
How much was allocated to promote Italian contemporary art abroad?
Three million euros were allocated for each of 2019 and 2020, with one million euros annually from 2021 onwards, to promote contemporary Italian art internationally.
