Sardinia: €30 million for cultural sites — new call for municipalities and local bodies

The Region of Sardinia has approved a public notice to finance protection, conservation and enhancement projects for the island's cultural heritage. The total package is €30 million, split into two targeted lines: one for libraries and one for other cultural assets including museums and archaeological areas.

• Line 1: €5 million dedicated exclusively to library projects.
• Line 2: €25 million for works on buildings and movable heritage, monuments, archaeological areas, museums and archives.

Regional grants per project range from €150,000 to €1,000,000 and can cover up to 100% of eligible costs.

Eligible applicants and exclusions

• Eligible applicants: Municipalities, Provinces, Metropolitan Cities, Unions of Municipalities and Mountain Communities in Sardinia.
• For Line 2, the Metropolitan City of Cagliari and the municipalities of Assemini, Cagliari, Elmas, Pula, Quartucciu, Sarroch, Selargius, Sestu and Sinnai are excluded, as they already benefit from other funding for the same thematic area.

Eligible interventions

• Public works, supplies and services aimed at safety measures and restoration of historic buildings, churches and archaeological sites (including excavations), and restoration of movable cultural goods such as artworks and artifacts.
• Accessibility and visitor-facility improvements: upgrading spaces and technical equipment to remove barriers.
• Technological innovation projects: energy efficiency (including photovoltaic systems), multimedia exhibits (virtual reality, apps, holograms) and artistic lighting systems.

Ordinary maintenance, the construction of entirely new museums or libraries (except functional units for existing sites) and works on parish outbuildings or hospitality premises are not eligible.

Deadlines and how to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the SIPES portal from 1 April to 12 May. The legal representative of the applicant entity or an authorized delegate must use SPID, CIE or CNS credentials to access the system.

Eligible expenditures are those incurred from 1 January 2021; the deadline for completing projects and for expense eligibility is 31 December 2030.

For details, clarifications and official contacts, consult the notice published on the Sardinia Region's institutional website; requests and official replies will be managed through the channels indicated in the notice.