The amount of funds allocated to culture in Italy is decreasing. As a result, suffers from many museums, theaters, libraries, etc. The country's cultural sector requires investments of private investors

Cultural institutions across Italy are suffering from a series of budget cuts that have been taken this summer conservative government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (Silvio Berlusconi). For the next three years the budget of the Ministry of Culture has been cut by more than 1.3 billion dollars. These stringent measures painful impact on the work of hundreds of museums, theaters, libraries, archives and archaeological expeditions, which depend on public funding.

Some museums barely enough money to pay for lighting and cleaning. Installation of air conditioners has become a real luxury, and yet the hot Italian summer sun heats ruthlessly museum premises. Many institutions have to reduce the regular staff in half, if not more - for example, the National Museum of Pigorini Luigi (Luigi Pigorini National Museum) owing to a shortage of workers to the Director had to hand out tickets at the entrance.

Because of the slowdown in economic growth and the severe restrictions the EU relating to the budget deficit, the EU countries account for reduced funding for the arts. Critics complain about the shortsightedness of government policy. While ordinary Italians consistently show that the preservation of cultural heritage is an integral component of national economic growth, the country's leadership is not able to maintain this valuable resource. In the current state budget allocated to the Italian Ministry of Culture just 0.28 per cent increase.

The current financial difficulties once again revived continuing for 15 years, disputes about whether or not to attract private sponsors to fill the shortage of funds in the cultural sector. Now many say that to attract tourists is not enough only to interesting sites and beautiful landscapes. The country needs a high level of service and effective management.

Culture Minister Sandro Bondi (Sandro Bondi) has promised to change the current situation by involving new administrators who will develop the existing potential in this area. He also said that plans to increase the share of private capital in the institutions of culture and art. However, critics argue that the state does nothing to encourage such as the private sector to invest in culture and art. Tax breaks for companies and entrepreneurs to help finance the restoration work, constructing new facilities for museums and exhibits, are still in their infancy. Therefore, private investment is simply uneconomical, as opposed to the United States.

In addition, the arts are not a sponsor so popular as, say, sports. According to Federculture, which combines the Italian cultural institutions and recreational activities, the sport this year has gone 73 per cent of subsidies - and mostly for football.

One of the main obstacles to the promotion of state sponsors - tax evasion, which is widely distributed in Italy. Because of his government is reluctant to concessions in the tax area. However, the current situation where a country has a public debt, private financing is the only way out of this situation.

Source: nytimes.com