(Finance) – “We share the objectives of the legislative measure that relaunches culture as a common good and a tool for inclusion and dialoguebut we believe that the measures envisaged are well below the needs for fair and cohesive development of a strategic supply chain for the country, capable of generating sustainable growth in the territories and positive impacts in economic and social terms”. Simone Gamberini, president of LegacoopAnd Giovanna Barni, president of CulTurMedia Legacoopcommenting on the assignment of the project for the conversion into law of decree 201/2024 containing urgent measures in the field of culture to the Chamber’s Culture Commission.
Gamberini and Barni underline how the objectives of the provision can be shared “in the face of the serious crisis affecting the diffusion of a plural, independent and participatory culture and the serious inequalities that divide the country in the opportunities for development and growth of awareness and skills”. At the same time, however, they highlight the insufficiency of the measures envisaged. “It is in fact – they claim – about minimum support funds for libraries, publishing and bookshops and some simplification measures for entertainment which should instead expand to many areas, including the management of cultural spaces and places”.
“Moreover – they add – the choices of the budget law seem to contradict the announcements, proposing yet another cuts for the sector: over 147 million less in 2025, 178 in 2026 and 204 in 2027, with spending going from 0.4% of GDP in 2024 at 0.3%, never so low in Italy, compared to an EU average of 1%”.
“We therefore hope – conclude Gamberini and Barni – that a real ‘Olivetti’ planrightly integrated with the other development and cohesion measures of the most fragile areas of the country, which implements a much broader long-term national strategy, shared and participated also with those social and economic forces which, such as cooperation, represent today, following the Olivetti example, a virtuous and balanced model of synthesis between economic interests and raising the quality of life and sociality, of which culture is an essential element”.