Senate approves changes to Cultural Heritage Code: digital registry

Senate approves update to the Cultural Heritage Code

The law, published in the Official Gazette, introduces digital tools and measures to encourage private involvement in the enhancement of public heritage. The changes aim to make inventorying more transparent, facilitate indirect management forms and set a national promotion strategy.

• Digital Registry of institutions and cultural sites: established at the Ministry of Culture to record the nature of assets, management forms, quality standards, accessibility, conservation status and last uses.
• Digital Roster of horizontal subsidiarity: a section of the registry listing private entities interested in indirect management of public assets, to ensure transparency and competitiveness in selection procedures.
• Italy on Stage: within 24 months the Minister will define a national strategy to enhance cultural sites, with particular attention to small towns and mountain communities and the use of historical reenactments and live performances to boost access.
• Rules on the movement of cultural goods: the law updates authorization rules for moving cultural items, specifying provisions for archives and temporary transfers.

Data collected will be integrated into the National Catalogue of Cultural Assets. Implementation is supported by dedicated funding: for instance, €500,000 per year for the digital roster and €4,500,000 per year for measures related to 'Italy on Stage', starting in 2026. Public cultural institutions are required to provide and update the registry information.

The reform pairs digital monitoring with private participation to improve oversight, accessibility and financial sustainability of cultural heritage management.