working towards the advanced management of cultural heritage

Within the broad framework of public administration reform, the Act of the ministerial directive, 10th May 2001, regarding the “technical/scientific criteria and standards for the functioning and development of museums” constitutes an essential tool in promoting the rapid growth of this sector. In fact, following in the footsteps of Icom's Deontological Code and through the advantageous involvement of regions and local authorities, the document underlines the importance of service quality and defines scopes, criteria and standards for operating and developing museums. On the basis of the subsidiarity principle, regions are the main actors in the implementation of the Directive Act, and in the last few years they have launched progressive plans aimed at increasing quality in museums by implementing standards and initiating accreditation processes. The aim of this study is to analyse the procedure enacted by the region of Emilia-Romagna, referring both to the regulations and the state of the art implementation of standards and its effect on museum management. In implementing the Directive Act, regions must be given more power, so that they are able to foster progressive plans aimed at increasing quality in museums and realizing accreditation processes.