Italian Bank Foundations: from grant-making to operating

Italian Cultural Firms have increasingly suffered of financial cuttings especially as regards State and Local Authorities Funds for decades. New Patrons have crowded the fund-giving scenario with new expertise and subsidiary roles lately. Among them, Bank Foundations today represent the most deeply involved Italian Cultural Patron. Next to other grant-making foundations, Public Administrations, the National Lottery, citizens, firms, they perpetuate their fund-giving role – as savings banks – and engage in the role of destination managers of Italian cultural landscapes. Nevertheless, bank foundations are not only grant-makers. Having collected arts and heritages through their past and today’s bank investing policies and services they are now realizing their exhibiting potentials. Through a cluster analysis of bank foundations assets, main accounting results and granting performances and thanks to interviews with a verified panel, it will be discussed of strategies and polarities of grant-making and operating in the arts.