Exhibitions and Cultural Heritage - A Survey on Exhibition Policies of Italian Cities

Abstract

The transformation of the sustainability models of cities, in the last years, has modified the perception of the economic and political role of arts and, consequently, the expectations of the public sector on cultural institutions. In Italy, the growth of cultural tourism in the main urban centers and art cities has changed the cultural supply models, increasing the emphasis on temporary exhibitions and events. Moreover, the contraction of public resources has induced cultural institutions to develop new forms of collaboration with private organizations in order to negotiate their autonomy.Starting from the Italian scenario, this research describes the activity of eight relevant institutions involved in the organization of exhibitions. The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data will show, in the first part, how these institutions have developed different models as far as their management structure, governance, nature of their offer and relationship with the cultural system as a whole.In this perspective, the second part will be dedicated to the study of a specific exhibition recently held at Palazzo Te in Mantua, analyzing the role that exhibitions have taken in local contexts.