Safeguarding and enhancing Italy’s cultural heritage is a complex challenge for our institutions, which requires “thinking big” in order to be addressed effectively. We do not lack will, ideas and concrete signs of change, such as the increasing opening to public-private partnerships. The main difficulties, if anything, concern the shift from a local-regional scale of intervention, on which cultural policies in Italy have recently focused, to an international one. Making a real “quality leap” requires, among others, establishing exchanges and partnerships with foreign cultural institutions, fostering the international circulation of large exhibitions and events, planning transnational fundraising campaigns, targeting foreign tourists before and after their trip.

These goals call for a wide range of specialist competencies and a look capable to stretch past boundaries and borders in order to seize the most significant and innovative experiences in a fast-evolving sector.

It is right to the purpose of helping cultural institutions think and act internationally that the two leading consultancy firms for cultural heritage in Italy and the US, Capitale Cultura Group and Cultural Heritage Partners, join their energies.

Based in Italy (Verona, Monza, Milan, Pesaro) and Switzerland (Lugano), Capitale Cultura Group contributes to the enhancement of cultural assets by fostering innovation, networking, integration with local communities and corporate partners, communication and promotion. With over 100 clients and partners, CCG’s services and activities focus on:

– supporting public and private institutions and foundations in their business development, marketing&communication, digital innovation, internationalization and fundraising activities, thanks to a network of professionals with international multi-sector expertise;

– accelerating high-potential start-ups in the Cultural and Creative Industries by providing them with skills, direct and endorsed access to capitals, international relations and business development services. The first start-ups launched respectively in 2013 and 2015 is ARtGlass, forerunner in wearable Augmented Reality solutions for Cultural Heritage and Sooeasy-Penguin Pass, with its disruptive smart access solution for cultural venues.

Cultural Heritage Partners’ mission is to support heritage institutions through zealous and inventive legal representation, sharply focused government affairs efforts, and strategic approaches to 21st century business challenges.

Within a cultural sector that is reinventing itself to respond to the demands of a global world, CHP helps clients enhance their impact and influence, navigate complex issues, and manage risk, resolving challenges informed by a substantive and practical knowledge of cultural heritage and an entrepreneurial approach.

Thanks to CHP’s support, heritage institutions can pursue more effectively their preservation missions, focusing on long-term sustainability, diversifying revenue streams, measuring their impact by outcomes and leveraging their relationships and partnerships to the greatest effect. Moreover, CHP advocates for its clients to federal, state, and local governments, domestic and foreign, ensuring that their voices are heard.

Thanks to the partnership, Cultural Heritage Partners’ and Capitale Cultura Group’s specific competencies and expertise will be integrated in order to provide Italian and European cultural institutions with advisory and support in 5 key areas, with a strong focus on international partnerships:

• Governance and strategy
• Business development and fundraising
• Marketing, communication and audience development
• Digital innovation
• Legal affairs.

The partnership is based on 3 founding factors: a solid experience in developing high-impact cultural projects, a methodology based on working side by side with partners in order to build and improve their capacities and a willingness to identify and disseminate the best international experiences and innovations.

Both American and European institutions will gain relevant benefits from accessing an international body of expertise and resources and establishing solid partnerships aimed at building leadership in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.