Ministry of Culture (Italy)


The Ministry of Culture is the ministry of the Government of Italy in charge of national museums and maintenance of historical monuments. MiC's headquarters are located in the historic Collegio Romano Palace and the current Minister of Culture is Alessandro Giuli.

History

It was set up in 1974 as the Ministry for Cultural Assets and Environments by the Moro IV Cabinet through the decree read on 14 December 1974, n. 657, converted from the law of 29 January 1975, n° 5. The new ministry largely has the remit and functions previously under the Ministry of Public Education. To this remit and functions it some of those of the Ministry of the Interior and of the President of the Council of Ministers.
Legislative decree number 368 of 20 October 1998 set up the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, with all the old ministry's remits as well as some new ones:
  • promotion of sports and sports arenas
  • promotion of shows, in all their forms
In 2006, the sport portfolio was reassigned to the new Dipartimento per le Politiche Giovanili e le Attività Sportive.
The ministry is principally concerned with culture, the protection and preservation of artistic sites and property, landscape, and tourism. At the end of 2006, the ministry's departments were abolished and their responsibilities returned to the ministry itself.
In 2009 the Ministry’s organisational structure underwent significant changes : the coordination of ministerial functions is still entrusted to a Secretary General, the General Directorates have been reduced from nine to eight, with new denominations and a partial reshaping of their responsibilities. The eight General Directorates continue to be technically supported by high level scientific bodies.
The peripheral ministerial structure of Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities is provided for, in 17 out of 20 regions, by Regional Directorates for Cultural Heritage and Landscape and by the local Soprintendenze.
On 1 March 2021 the "Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism" was renamed into the "Ministry of Culture".

Organisation

Central administration

The Ministry is made up of a variety of internal divisions, including:
  • Ufficio di gabinetto
  • Segreteria del ministro
  • Ufficio stampa
  • Ufficio legislativo
  • Organismo Indipendente di Valutazione della performance
  • Direzioni Generali :
  • Direzione generale Archeologia, belle arti e paesaggio - in charge of the landscape, fine arts, architectural and art heritage
  • Direzione generale Archivi - in charge of national archives
  • Direzione generale Biblioteche e diritto d'autore - in charge of national libraries and copyright
  • Direzione generale Bilancio - in charge of internal organisation
  • Direzione generale Cinema e audiovisivo - in charge of cinematography
  • Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity - in charge of art of XX and XXI century
  • Direzione generale Educazione, ricerca e istituti culturali - in charge of education and cultural institutes
  • Direzione generale Musei - in charge of state museums
  • Direzione generale Organizzazione - in charge of internal organisation
  • Direzione generale Sicurezza del patrimonio culturale - in charge of security of the cultural heritage
  • Direzione generale Spettacolo - in charge of music, dance and theater
Istituti Centrali :

Associated organs

  • Direzioni Regionali per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici
  • Soprintendenze
  • * Soprintendenze per i Beni Architettonici e il Paesaggio
  • * Soprintendenze per il Patrimonio Storico, Artistico ed Etnoantropologico
  • * Soprintendenze per i Beni Archeologici
  • * Soprintendenze Archivistiche
  • Archivi di Stato
  • Biblioteche Statali
  • Musei
  • Comando Carabinieri per la Tutela del Patrimonio Culturale - Carabinieri Art Squad is the branch of the Italian Carabinieri responsible for combatting art and antiquities crimes

Official names

  • 1974–1998: Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali
  • 1998–2013: Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali
  • 2013–2018: Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo
  • 2018-2019: Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali
  • 2019-2021: Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo
  • Since 2021: Ministero della cultura

List of ministers

The current minister is Alessandro Giuli, appointed on 6 September 2024 by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Logo

The Ministry logo is inspired by the face of Apollo, in the famous sculptural group of Apollo and Daphne by Bernini kept at the Borghese Gallery.