This document, a legislative decree issued on April 13, 2017, outlines the promotion of humanistic culture, the enhancement of cultural heritage and productions, and the support of creativity. It aims at integrating cultural education into the national education system, emphasising the importance of arts and humanities for students’ comprehensive development. The decree is a direct application of provisions from the July 13, 2015, law on national education reform.
The legislation underscores the centrality of humanistic culture and artistic knowledge in recognizing human dignity and values. It mandates that the national education and training system foster the study and critical appreciation of the arts as essential curricular elements. Schools are encouraged to develop students’ analytical, critical, and methodological skills related to cultural heritage.
Schools are tasked with supporting both theoretical and practical engagement with cultural heritage, involving collaborations with institutions responsible for heritage preservation and promotion. This includes fostering creativity in students through various artistic forms, such as music, dance, visual arts, and design, in both traditional and innovative contexts.
The decree introduces a coordinated system for promoting “creativity themes” within education, involving partnerships between educational institutions, cultural organisations, local authorities, and the private sector. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, oversees this system, ensuring it operates within existing resources and legislative frameworks.
A significant component of the decree is the “Piano delle Arti” (Arts Plan), which provides a structured approach to integrating arts into the curriculum. This plan supports flexible and innovative educational models, promotes artistic orientation in schools, and encourages partnerships for shared resources and expertise. The plan also aims to enhance students’ practical and historical-critical skills in arts, cultural heritage, and media production.
Overall, this legislation aims to cultivate a well-rounded, culturally aware, and creative student body, capable of appreciating and contributing to Italy’s rich cultural heritage. Its impact on heritage is profound, as it institutionalised the appreciation and preservation of cultural assets through education, ensuring that future generations are both custodians and innovators of cultural traditions.
