Caring for Cultural Heritage

The Office of Cultural Heritage and Activities of the Province, active since 2024, is tasked with supporting the Province, its Definitory, and the Commission for “Cultural Activities and Management of Historical-Artistic Heritage”. It is responsible for the knowledge, protection, conservation, enhancement, and growth of cultural heritage and sacred art under the jurisdiction of the province, also considering their future sustainability. It also works in synergy with state, regional, and local institutions to protect, promote, and make accessible cultural assets of religious interest owned by ecclesiastical entities.

Its goal is to facilitate the knowledge of the Franciscan and Antonian material and immaterial heritage, highlighting its educational and pastoral value, through activities and experiences that connect traditional languages with the innovation of digital culture, to promote inclusion for all and offer a service useful to contemporary society. To achieve this goal, it works to contribute to dialogue and the exchange of cultural information and experiences within the communities of the Province, encouraging collaboration between provincial cultural institutes and communities, with third-sector entities and associations, with local administrations, and with organizations in the field of arts and cultural heritage.

Among the activities carried out by the Office are:

• Consulting and support for provincial ecclesiastical entities for the preparation, management, and monitoring of maintenance and restoration practices for moveable and immovable cultural assets, also providing assistance in defining cultural projects and activities.

• Coordination of the inventory and cataloging project for the Province’s cultural assets.

• Protection actions in response to precarious situations regarding the conservation and safety of assets.

• Issuance of opinions on the restoration of individual artistic works or those placed in buildings protected under D.Lgs. 42/2004, the Cultural Heritage and Landscape Code.

• Issuance of opinions on general or partial restoration, restoration, conservation, adaptation, and restructuring of protected buildings.

• Handling the report and related practices in the case of theft or damage to cultural assets.

• Authorization for loans for national and international exhibitions of artworks and objects (paintings, vestments, jewelry, printed books, and manuscripts).

• Organization of exhibitions and displays at the communities and entities of the Province, related to sacred art and cultural heritage.

• Opinion on the disposal of cultural assets.

• Promotion of initiatives for the enhancement of historical-artistic heritage and for dialogue with contemporary artists.

• Implementation of decisions regarding cultural assets and activities approved by the Provincial Definitory and/or the Commission for “Cultural Activities and Management of Historical-Artistic Heritage”.

• Development of communications, tools, and initiatives to facilitate the training, documentation, and information of religious and lay individuals.

• Reference for the website “Franciscans for Culture”.

• Monitoring of calls for proposals and funding related to the cultural sector.

• Support to entities for the preparation of funding requests and proposals.

At the Province, the Commission for “Cultural Activities and Management of Historical-Artistic Heritage” is also established, tasked with identifying strategic guidelines for managing cultural activities and overseeing the custody and enhancement of cultural heritage.