The paper explores the dynamics of managing local heritage as a common good, focusing on the Italian context. It presents a case study analysis of interactions between local administrations and civil society in the field of heritage valorization.
International and Italian policies increasingly recognize cultural heritage as a common good, encouraging the participation of local communities in heritage governance through a framework of shared responsibility. The Faro Convention and the concept of "Heritage Communities" establish a promising connection to the tripartite definition of the commons: resource, community, and shared rules of engagement (commoning). However, whether these policies effectively translate into local governance practices remains uncertain. Traditional approaches to heritage management—expert-led centralized control or privatization—often conflict with the commons-based approach, raising questions about practical implementation. What is the actual level of community agency? To what extent is this approach to heritage management viewed as legitimate?
The article uses Italy’s patti di collaborazione, formal agreements between citizens and local administrations, as a case study to explore how communities engage with urban commons, particularly in managing local heritage. The study examines how communities form around heritage commons, establish legitimacy in managing these resources, interact with public administrations, and which factors facilitate or hinder their efforts. Additionally, the research considers the potential of applying commons-based management to "minor" heritage sites, which public and private actors often overlook due to their limited market potential.
The findings reflect the potential for an integrated, participatory system of heritage management in Italy. Such a system could balance the traditional roles of public administration and private actors with the increasingly acknowledged value of community involvement, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic approach to preserving and promoting cultural heritage as a shared, common resource.
