Fondo edifici di culto: new regulations for the use and reproduction of works and goods

On 10 July, the new rules governing the procedures and fees for the use and reproduction of the assets of the Fondo edifici di culto (the Fund) were approved, adopted by order of the Central Director for Religious Affairs and for the Administration of the FEC, registered by the supervisory bodies.

This is an important milestone of simplification and transparency in the reorganization of the regulations governing the use of the Fund's priceless assets, made necessary by the long lapse of time that has elapsed since the previous stratified regulations and by the pressing evolution towards digital technology, towards a market increasingly oriented towards the use of innovative multimedia tools and new channels for disseminating images and videos.

Starting from a reconnaissance of the various provisions that have succeeded one another over time and of the problems emerging from practical experience, and thanks to the help of the specific technical, artistic and legal skills of the members of the Board of Directors, the Fund and its users can now work on the basis of a clear regulatory framework, drawn up in the light of the guiding principles on the subject, dictated by Articles 106, 107 and 108 of Legislative Decree no. 42 of 22 January 2004, concerning the "Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape".

Within the framework outlined by the measure, the principle of free use for study purposes or for project initiatives implemented by public or private non-profit entities is of central importance: facilitating and encouraging the study of the Fund's heritage means in fact keeping the interest and knowledge of our historical and artistic past alive and vital.

At the same time, the measure also aims to further stimulate the increase of the Fund's own revenues through initiatives of economic value that can leverage the heritage's assets. Indeed, the Fund is an entity with its own budget, aimed at protecting, preserving and enhancing the value of its heritage, where just under 90 per cent of income comes from the use of its assets.

Procedures and fee schedule for the loan of works of art and for the granting of authorizations for the use of images and the photographic and filming of assets, both movable and immovable, of the Worship Buildings Fund are available on the Civil Liberties and Immigration website at the following link.

Source: https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/fondo-edifici-culto-nuova-disciplina-uso-e-riproduzione-opere-e-beni