Accademie e Conservatori italiani in subbuglio. Lettera al Ministro Bernini contro la proposta di riforma che toglie autonomia
Directors and presidents of Italy's Academies of Fine Arts, Conservatories, and ISIA institutions have sent a letter to Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini on June 17, 2026, opposing a proposed reform of DPR 132/2003. The reform, sent confidentially to the CNAM (National Council for Higher Artistic, Musical and Dance Education) on June 12, would radically alter the governance of AFAM institutions by centralizing legal representation and administrative powers in appointed Presidents, stripping Directors of their legal and administrative roles, and introducing a Director General appointed by the ministry. The letter warns that this represents a significant regression from the principles of autonomy, representativeness, and self-governance that underpin Italy's higher arts education system.
This matters because the proposed reform threatens the foundational autonomy of Italy's AFAM institutions, which were granted university-level status and self-governance under the original DPR 132/2003. By concentrating power in centrally appointed figures and weakening elected academic leaders, the reform could undermine the collegial, democratic character of arts education and further distance AFAM from the university system. The letter also highlights that the reform was advanced without prior consultation with institutions or unions, and that it fails to address real systemic issues like underfunding, staffing shortages, and facility problems. The outcome could reshape the governance of dozens of art academies and conservatories across Italy, affecting thousands of students and faculty.