Young people's participation in museums: national overview

Data referring to 2022 show that less than half of Italian young people aged 6 to 17 visited at least one museum in the last year: the national average is around 40%. This figure highlights limited engagement of younger generations with the country's museums and monumental sites.

The Autonomous Province of Trento stands out for significantly higher participation: nearly 62% of minors attended at least one cultural visit, the highest rate in the country. Regions such as Veneto follow with approximately 49%.

Economic and organisational disparities

The data reveal strong links between household income and access to cultural sites: in low-income families only 11.3% of minors visited a cultural site, compared with 36.9% in higher-income households. Organisationally, about 40% of Italian museums are open more than 250 days a year; in Trentino this percentage drops to 29%.

Italy also counts 61 UNESCO sites, reflecting widespread monumental heritage. Yet these numbers show unequal access: income, educational offer and local policies strongly influence young people's participation.

Practical suggestions to increase youth visits

• School and educational programmes: strengthen partnerships with schools to include guided visits and curriculum-linked projects focused on monuments and museums.
• Fees and concessions: introduce discounts, free entries or special formulas for low-income and large families.
• Interactive offers: implement hands-on workshops, multimedia trails and activities designed for children and teenagers.
• Targeted communication: promote events and programmes through digital channels, social media and school networks.
• Accessibility and opening hours: revise openings and services to increase availability in less-served areas.

For museum operators and local authorities these suggestions provide concrete actions to reduce disparities and encourage wider youth engagement with monumental heritage.

Location: Trento (TN), Italy