A new certification has been created to improve the management and valorization of Italian cultural heritage

A new certification standard called SGPI01:2024 has been launched in Italy to improve the management and valorization of cultural heritage. Developed by Certiquality and the Stati Generali del Patrimonio Italiano (SGPI), the standard was presented in Florence at Palazzo Guadagni Strozzi Sacrati, with the patronage of the Tuscany Region. It applies to all public and private entities that own or manage cultural and landscape assets, introducing a comprehensive management system that goes beyond legal compliance, focusing on conservation, economic sustainability, accessibility, and safety through independent third-party audits.

This initiative matters because Italy's vast cultural heritage is increasingly difficult for the state alone to manage and fund. The certification provides a strategic framework for public and private operators to attract funding and donations while ensuring high standards of preservation and public access. By creating a voluntary but rigorous benchmark, it aims to shift the perception of cultural heritage from a burden to a managed resource, potentially setting a model for other regions and countries facing similar challenges.