Public-Private Partnership in the Cultural Sector: A Comparative Analysis between Italy and the United States

Abstract

The topic of public-private partnerships for the implementation of the cultural sector and the valorization of cultural heritage is discussed and a comparative analysis between the different forms of PPPs in Italy and the United States is conducted. It follows an analysis of the management of culture and national heritage in the above-mentioned countries, supported by two successful examples of PPP projects, namely the archeological Park of Herculaneum and the Presidio Park in San Francisco. The first chapter provides a general introduction to the public-private partnership, including its definition, historical framework, characteristics, traditional, and innovative models. The second chapter focuses on the development of public-private partnerships for the cultural and creative sector, by firstly analyzing the economic relevance and impact of cultural and creative industries and subsequently discussing the function of this partnership for the preservation and valorization of cultural assets. The Italian cultural field and heritage, its administration, and the different forms of PPPs are examined in the third chapter. The same concept applies to the fourth chapter, in which the cultural framework of the United States and its related topics are explored. In the last chapter, the Italian case of the archaeological Park of Herculaneum is compared to the American case of the Presidio Park in San Francisco, California, and the main differences and similarities of the two projects are highlighted.