Sharing is caring: Investigating accountability practices in Italian autonomous state museums

Since 2014, the Italian state museum system has been modified by — among other innovations — the introduction of the “autonomous museum” (d.p.c.m.August 29th 2014, n. 171 and d.m. December 23rd 2014, with subsequent amendments). Thanks to the reform, autonomous museums are accountable for their own management and for the fulfilment of their mission, are provided with specific management bodies and internal organization structures, are able to directly manage revenues and are required to prepare yearly accounting documents. Public museums operate as hybrid institutions at the intersection of public administration, cultural management, and heritage conservation, and they must address multiple accountability demands. However, empirical evidence on how museums engage with accountability remains limited, particularly concerning non-financial reporting and stakeholder engagement. Drawing from accountability theory, this thesis investigates the accountability practices of Italian autonomous state museums, examining how these institutions navigate the tensions between financial, managerial, and cultural responsibilities. The research employs a qualitative approach, using case studies of two autonomous museums to assess their accountability practices through semi- structured interviews and document analysis. Findings reveal that while autonomous museums comply with mandatory financial reporting, voluntary disclosure remains inconsistent and underdeveloped. The mainly hierarchical approach to accountability applied by the Ministry of Culture primarily emphasizes financial oversight and bureaucratic disclosure. The findings are also analyzed considering the broader constraints and limitations imposed on state museums by the current framework of autonomy. By addressing these gaps, this research contributes to the literature on museum accountability and cultural governance. It underscores the need for an integrated and multidimensional approach to accountability that can foster a more meaningful dialogue between museums, policymakers, and the public.