Budget Law 2022, here are all the measures for culture

With 355 votes in favor and 45 against, the House of Representatives gave the final green light to the Budget Law 2022. The text had been approved by the Senate between Dec. 23 and 24 and has now received the House’s final yes. The 2022 maneuver includes a package of measures amounting to 30 billion euros (23 of which are deficit-financed), including 12 for tax cuts, 4 for health care, 3 for the reform of social safety nets, 3 against high utility bills, 1 and a half for pensions and unemployment benefits, 1 and a half for business incentives, and 1 for refinancing the citizenship income. And then there is also a billion for culture, as well as 500 million for education and research.

“Culture,” commented Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, “is central to the government’s economic policy action. From the strengthening of funds for cinema and audiovisuals, to new resources to counter the depopulation of villages and small towns in inland areas, regulations for libraries, archives and bookstores, funds for the protection of cultural heritage, income support for entertainment workers to the extension of the facade bonus, albeit remodeled to 60 percent for 2022, all cultural sectors see an increase in state investment and intervention.”

Here are in detail the main measures contained in the Budget Law 2022 for culture.

Bonus facades, para. 28

The ’Bonus Facades’ is extended through 2022. The tax credit, which for 2021 was 90 percent, albeit remodeled to 60 percent, will continue to target the construction sector with investments for the restoration and recovery of facades of buildings and condominiums.

Science museums, para. 302

In order to organically and systematically support and incentivize the dissemination of scientific culture, including for the benefit of the protection, enjoyment and enhancement of the country’s cultural heritage, an annual contribution of 1.5 million euros is authorized for each of the following entities, beginning in the year 2022: Fondazione IDIS-Città della scienza in Naples, Fondazione Museo nazionale della scienza e della tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, and Museo Galileo-Istituto e museo di storia della scienza in Florence. The Ministry of University and Research exercises supervisory activities over the three entities through the appointment of supervisory bodies and the approval of three-year activity plans.

Film and Audiovisual Investment Development Fund, Paragraph 348.

The fund provided by the 2016 Franceschini Law for the development of investments in cinema and audiovisual is increased by an additional 110 million euros. The minimum annual amount of the fund, in 2016 €400 million, will now start at €750 million. The gradual increase of the fund for the development of investments in cinema and audiovisuals has made it possible to stabilize the cinema tax credit at 40 percent.

Culture Fund, para. 349

The endowment of the Culture Fund established by the Relaunch Decree in May 2020 to promote investment in tangible and intangible cultural heritage and open to the participation of private entities is refinanced with 20 million euros for 2022 and 2023.

Reading promotion, para. 350

30 million euros for each of the years 2022 and 2023 to promote reading and support the book publishing industry. The resources are allocated to libraries of the state, territorial entities and institutes to purchase books by targeting mainly bookstores in their territories.

Support for bookstores (tax credit), Paragraph 351.

In order to strengthen commercial activities operating in the book retail sector, the expenditure authorization in Article 1, Paragraph 319 of Law No. 205 of December 27, 2017, is increased by 10 million euros for each of the years 2022 and 2023.

New welfare of entertainment workers, para. 352

Launched is the Temporary Economic Support Fund - SET, with an initial allocation of 40 million euros in 2022 and 40 million euros annually from 2023. The SET is one of the measures included in the new welfare of entertainment workers, which redesigns workers’ protections taking into account the specificities of a sector in which the employment relationship is structurally discontinuous due to the objective nature of the performance and not due to employer or worker choice. In the parliamentary iteration and in the linked entertainment bill in the Senate, the resources of the fund will be increased and the criteria and modalities of SET disbursement will be defined.

Incentives for artisans and historic stores in villages, paragraphs 353-356

Lower taxes for commercial activities in municipalities with a population of less than 500. To encourage tourism development and counter commercial desertification and abandonment of the territories, retail traders and artisans who start, continue or relocate their business in a municipality with a population of up to 500 inhabitants in inland areas may benefit, for the years 2022 and 2023, from an exemption from the municipal tax proper for properties located in the aforementioned municipalities. For the same purposes, the State, the Regions, the Autonomous Provinces and the Local Authorities may grant on loan real estate owned by them, not used for institutional purposes, to traders and artisans.

Bonus 18-year-olds (18App), paragraphs 357-358.

18App, the 500-euro culture bonus for new 18-year-olds to spend on cinema, music and concerts, cultural events, books, museums, monuments and parks, theater and dance, music, theater, and foreign language courses, audiovisual publishing products, and subscriptions to newspapers, including in digital format, is stabilized and made permanent.

Symphony opera foundations, paragraphs 359-363.

A new fund is established for the rehabilitation of symphonic opera foundations with an allocation of 100 million euros for the year 2022 and 50 million euros for 2023.

Preservation of archival heritage, paragraphs 364-365.

In order to ensure the preservation and enjoyment of the archival heritage, the expenditure of 100 million euros until 2025 (25 for 2022, 45 for 2023, 20 for 2024 and 10 for 2025) is authorized for the purchase of real estate for the State Archives and for the implementation of fire and seismic retrofitting of archival institutions. Starting from the year 2022, an expenditure of 5 million euros per year is also authorized for the rental of real estate for the same institutes.

Single current account tourism fund, paragraphs 366-367.

In order to rationalize interventions aimed at the attractiveness and promotion of tourism in the national territory, supporting the operators of the sector in the path of mitigation of the effects of the crisis and for the revival of production and employment in synergy with the measures provided for in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, in the estimates of the Ministry of Tourism is established a fund to be allocated called the “Single National Fund for Current Part Tourism,” with an allocation of 120 million euros for each of the years 2022 and 2023 and 40 million euros for the year 2024. The resources of the fund are earmarked for the adoption of safeguard measures for economic operators in the sector capable of enhancing the sector’s potential in the face of the effects of systemic or sectoral crises, concentrating measures in favor of operators for whom conditions remain that limit the ordinary possibility of carrying out production and work activities, and for the promotion of tourism development policies capable of producing positive economic and social impacts on the territories concerned and for the productive and social categories involved.

Single capital account tourism fund, paragraphs 368-370.

For the realization of investments aimed at increasing the tourist attractiveness of the country, also in relation to the organization of shows and events, including sports events, connoted by pronounced tourist importance, guaranteeing positive social, economic and employment effects on the territories and for the categories involved, in the estimates of the Ministry of Tourism is established a fund to be allocated called “Single National Capital Account Tourism Fund,” with an allocation of 50 million euros for the year 2022, 100 million euros for the year 2023 and 50 million euros for each of the years 2024 and 2025.

Support for publishing, paragraphs 375-378.

An “Extraordinary Fund for interventions to support publishing” is established at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, for subsequent transfer to the autonomous budget of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with an endowment of 90 million euros for the year 2022 and 140 million euros for the year 2023. The Fund is intended to incentivize investments by publishing companies, including newly established ones, oriented toward technological innovation and digital transition, the entry of young qualified professionals in the field of new media, as well as to support corporate restructuring and social shock absorbers and to support the demand for information.

Support for ceramics, para. 701

In order to promote the protection and preservation of the technical and productive characteristics of ceramic production, refinancing of Law No. 188 of July 9, 1990 is provided, within the spending limit of 5 million euros for the year 2022, aimed at the development and implementation of projects designed to support and enhance activity in the field of artistic and traditional ceramics and quality ceramics.

Support for Murano glass, Paragraph 702.

In order to contain the negative effects resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 contagion and price increases in the electricity and natural gas sector, as well as to avert production stoppage of kilns and, at the same time, protect a brand of excellence in the world, a fund with an allocation of €5 million for the year 2022 is established in the budget of the Ministry of Economic Development, to be allocated to companies operating in the sector of artistic ceramics and Murano artistic glass.

Promotion of the Italian language abroad, Paragraph 771.

In order to strengthen Italian interests abroad, the expenditure of 0.6 million euros is authorized for the year 2022 for the promotion of Italian language and culture abroad, with particular reference to the support of institutions managing Italian language and culture courses abroad.

Bergamo and Brescia Italian Capitals of Culture 2023, paragraphs 779 and 907.

For the financing of projects presented by the cities of Bergamo and Brescia, designated Italian Capitals of Culture for 2023, the expenditure of 1 million euros is authorized for the year 2022 to be divided equally between the two cities. In addition, for the purpose of financing initiatives aimed at increasing the enjoyment of the cultural, tangible and intangible heritage of the Italian Capital of Culture, an expenditure of 0.5 million euros is authorized for the year 2022, earmarked for the cities of Bergamo and Brescia as Italian Capitals of Culture.

Fund for the protection of Roman arches

In order to ensure and promote the enhancement of the territory, while respecting its identity and cultural peculiarities, including through the provision of historical paths and itineraries and the rediscovery of forgotten archaeological areas, guaranteeing continuity in the enjoyment for visitors, in the budget of the Ministry of Culture is established the Fund for the protection and enhancement of ancient Roman arches in Italy, with an allocation of 400,000 euros for the year 2022.

Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia, Paragraph 783.

In order to enhance the public mission activities of the Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia, in particular to update the database of the National Biography and the Observatory of the Italian Language, including through the digital use of the work, a contribution of 1 million euros is allocated for the year 2022.

Centenary of the death of Giacomo Matteotti, Paragraph 785.

For the purpose of celebrating the figure of Giacomo Matteotti, on the 100th anniversary of his death, in order to promote and enhance the knowledge and study of his work and thought nationally and internationally, including by collecting, preserving, restoring and digitizing the related documentation, the expenditure of 400,000 euros is authorized for each of the years 2022 and 2023.

Centenary of the birth of Pier Paolo Pasolini, Paragraph 786.

For the purpose of celebrating the figure of Pier Paolo Pasolini, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, to promote and enhance his knowledge nationally and internationally, the expenditure of 400,000 euros is authorized for each of the years 2022 and 2023.

Centenary of the birth of Enrico Berlinguer, Paragraph 787.

For the purpose of celebrating the figure of Enrico Berlinguer, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, to promote and enhance his knowledge nationally and internationally, the expenditure of 400,000 euros is authorized for each of the years 2022 and 2023.

Centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini, Paragraph 792.

For the celebration of the centenary of the death of Giacomo Puccini in the year 2024, the expenditure of 1.5 million euros for the year 2022 and 8 million euros for the year 2023 is authorized for the financing of the promotion, research, preservation and dissemination of knowledge of the life, work and places related to the figure of Giacomo Puccini. Paragraph 793 establishes the Promoting Committee for Puccini Celebrations.

Historic Carnivals, Paragraph 797

The single fund for entertainment is increased by 1 million euros for the year 2022 with the specific purpose of protecting and enhancing the function performed by historical carnivals, which have a recognizable historical and cultural identity, for the preservation and transmission of historical and popular traditions in relation to the promotion of territories.

Five hundredth anniversary of the death of Perugino, paragraphs 804-806.

The Republic, as part of the functions of promoting the development of culture and scientific research as well as safeguarding and enhancing the Italian cultural tradition and the nation’s artistic and historical heritage, attributed to it by the Constitution, shall celebrate the painter Pietro Vannucci known as “Il Perugino” on the occasion of the fifth centenary of his death. The expenditure of 1 million euros for the year 2022 is authorized for the celebration. A committee promoting celebrations related to the figure of Perugino is also established.

Support for the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation, Paragraph 903.

In order to make available to the public and scholars the artistic and cultural heritage of Franco Zeffirelli, the result of almost seventy years of his career and declared of special historical interest by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities pursuant to the code set forth in Legislative Decree No. 42 of January 22, 2004, on January 29, 2009, the expenditure of 200,000 euros for the year 2022 is authorized in favor of the private nonprofit foundation “Franco Zeffirelli onlus,” established in 2015.

Support for the Versiliana, Paragraph 907.

In order to support and enhance the cultural activity severely penalized by COVID-19, the expenditure of 300,000 euros is authorized for the year 2022 in favor of the Fondazione la Versiliana in Pietrasanta.

Cultural assets in the province of Como, Paragraph 1007.

In order to support the development of cultural heritage in the province of Como, the following provisions are made: (a) a fund, named “Fund for the establishment of the National Museum of Historical Abstractionism and Architectural Rationalism in Como,” with an allocation of 1 million euros for the year 2022, is established in the estimate of the Ministry of Culture, aimed at establishing the National Museum of Historical Abstractionism and Architectural Rationalism, through the construction and adaptation of the Museum’s headquarters in Palazzo Terragni; (b) an expenditure of 200.000 for the year 2022, for the enhancement of the monumental complex to the fallen soldiers of the First World War, located in the municipality of Erba; c) an expenditure of euro 400,000 is authorized for the year 2022, for the restoration and enhancement of the building heritage of Villa Candiani in Erba, and euro 400.000 for the year 2022, earmarked for the establishment, at the same Villa Candiani in Erba, of the Interactive Museum of Set Design, consisting of a multi-sensory and scenographic route of the works, drawings and models of the set designer Ezio Frigerio; d) an expenditure of euro 500,000 is authorized for the Corps of the Guardia di Finanza, starting from 2022, to meet the logistical costs related to the change of headquarters of its Commands.

Budget Law 2022, here are all the measures for culture

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