Opera is a type of live show of great tradition in Italy. Its regulatory discipline was initially defined by Law 800/1967 which declared the “relevant general interest” of opera and concert activity “as intended to promote the musical, cultural and social training of the national community”. If at first the autonomous lyric bodies and similar concert institutions had been recognized as legal personalities under public law, the subsequent Legislative Decree 367/1996 transformed these bodies into foundations under private law, in order to eliminate the organizational rigidity and consequently to attract private funding. However, the fourteen lyric-symphonic foundations retain a marked... read more →
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If you are not happy with the results below please do another searchIn Italy, State and regional laws with a sectoral character regulate most of the aspects concerning culture, therefore in the context of this short report it is not possible to provide a complete overview of the regulatory evolution in this matter. The following paragraphs will attempt to provide a reconstruction of the juridical discipline concerning the most relevant aspects regarding cultural matters through a survey of the legislative interventions that have impacted on the legal discipline of the various sectors that will be treated in the thematic paragraphs. Main international legal instruments implemented by Italy in the cultural field The... read more →
The first Italian law specifically oriented to the protection of personal data is n. 675/1996, adopted to implement Directive 95/46/ EC. Article 1 of the law states that “[...] the processing of personal data is carried out in compliance with the rights, fundamental freedoms, as well as the dignity of individuals, with particular reference to confidentiality and personal identity; it also guarantees the rights of individuals and any other body or association". The law itself also established the Personal Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali), an independent administrative authority that verifies compliance with the law of... read more →
In Italy, copyright is mainly governed by Law no. 633/1941 which provides for the protection of “intellectual works of a creative nature” belonging to literature, music, figurative arts, architecture, theatre and film, whatever the mode or form of expression (art. 1). The protection was then extended to photographic works, computer programmes, databases and industrial design creations afterwards (Article 2), given the increased digitalization of society. The harmonization and “Europeanization” process with regards to copyright has determined a significant change in the national legislation on the subject. In fact, the transposition of the European directives typically involved the adoption of legislative... read more →
Italy does not have a law specifically dedicated to employment relationships established in the cultural sector, not considering Law no. 4/2013, which contains “provisions on non-organized professions” (on the basis of which AIB and ANAI, the National Associations of Librarians and Archivists have certified librarians and archivists according to the UNI EN ISO 9001 standard). In fact, the concept of “cultural work” is difficult to define, due to the heterogeneity of sectors and activities, as well as the variety of possible legal and contractual forms. For example, in 2014, the discipline regarding professionals competent to carry out interventions on cultural... read more →
The principle of tax benefits for cultural activities emerges in a series of provisions which aim to encourage the contribution of private actors – individuals and businesses - in this sector. Tax incentives for legal entities: Art Bonus is a facilitating measure introduced by the D.L. n. 83/2014, then stabilized and made permanent by the 2016 stability law, which allocates to private individuals and firms a tax credit equal to 65 percent of the disbursements made to promote projects for the restoration of publicly owned cultural assets, for the support of publicly owned cultural institutions and places (e.g. museums, libraries,... read more →
To cope with the intrinsically discontinuous and intermittent nature that characterizes the work performance of subjects employed in the entertainment sector, in 1947 the Ente Nazionale di Previdenza e Assistenza per i Lavoratori dello Spettacolo (ENPALS) was established in the form of a public body. Its task was to manage compulsory insurance contributions for invalidity, old age and survivors of subordinate, para-subordinate and self-employed workers employed in this sector, divided into categories coinciding with the most widespread professions in the world of film, dance, fashion, music for the theatre and sport. In 2011, ENPALS was abolished and converged into the... read more →
In Italy, investments in the cultural sector are mainly public and are carried out through forms of direct and indirect financing. They are allowed, above all, by the resources deriving from general tax revenues and are directed through specific destination constraints by the State, Regions and local authorities towards cultural activities, bodies and organizations. Investments are also allowed by the system of tax relief for donations or investments in the cultural sector, which are discussed in paragraph 4.1.4. (Tax laws) and in chapter 7.1. The proceeds deriving from the management of the nearly 500 state institutions and places of public... read more →
Digitalization has increasingly impacted the Italian cultural sector over the last years, with particular reference to cultural heritage, its preservation and valorization. Digitalization has been pushed along with Legislative Decree No. 83 of 31 May 2014 and subsequent legislation, called after Dario Franceschini, the Minister for Cultural Heritage from 2014 to 2018 who drove the reform through. This reform recognized the relevance of innovating museums and heritage sites and acknowledged the centrality of users in enjoying cultural heritage. Alongside an organizational reshaping of the roles and units within the Ministry, digital actions were also pushed. These actions occurred at two... read more →
The government body in charge of gender equality in Italy is the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The National Code of Equal Opportunities between women and men approved in 2006 represents the legal framework on gender equality (Law 198/2006). Gender quotas are in force according to Law 215/2012. With regard to public administration, a national directive of 2007 ensures the implementation of measures for equality and equal opportunities between men and women. It aims to ensure that the provisions in force are implemented within the public administration, increase the presence of women in... read more →