Rome. Is the profession of restorer of cultural and artistic property threatened in Italy? The controversy rages in a country which prides itself on being a world reference in this field. A recent modification of the Cultural Property and Landscape Code opens the door to obtaining the title of restorer on the basis of professional experience, and no longer exclusively upon completion of a high-level university diploma. This measure, perceived by some as a necessary flexibility, is criticized by others who see it as a “amnesty” dangerous favoring professionals with sometimes criticized skills. The debate rages and threatens to divide a profession which fears that Italian excellence will be weakened.
The controversy arose from the introduction of article 182-bis in the Cultural Property and Landscape Code. This legislative modification, integrated last December by an amendment, establishes a transitional period running until June 30, 2028. During this window, it will be possible to obtain the qualification of “restorer of cultural property” by demonstrating a “adequate professional competence” acquired in the field. Concretely, the law provides that access to the title is no longer reserved solely for graduates of academic courses of excellence (such as those from higher education schools or specialized universities), but can be granted following a public selection procedure aimed at validating previous experience. The precise terms of this evaluation must still be defined by a ministerial decree.
Need for a solid theoretical culture
Until now, the Italian restaurant training system was considered one of the most rigorous in the world. Becoming a restorer required completing a five-year master’s course combining a solid theoretical culture (history of art, chemistry, biology) and cutting-edge practice in the field. This model guaranteed that each intervention on a monument or a master’s painting was carried out with great scientific rigor. For many professionals and academics, the new law is akin to a “sanatoria” – massive regularization – which devalues years of academic study. The Association of Restaurateurs of Italy in an open letter described the amendment as“incomprehensible” and potentially illegitimate. The major fear is to see operators from the construction sector or general crafts arriving on delicate sites, certainly possessing manual know-how, but lacking the theoretical foundations essential to understanding the complex structure of works of art.
The know-how of local catering companies
The debate quickly took an ethical turn. The archaeologist Giuliano Volpe, former president of the Superior Council of Cultural Property, denounces in an open letter “permanent amnesties”: “This law undoes twenty years of efforts to professionalize and raise the standards of conservation in Italy. By opening the title to those who have “learned on the job”, the State seems to be saying that high-level training is optional. On the other hand, politicians supporting the measure argue that it is about regularizing the situation of experienced workers who have been operating in the sector for decades. They argue that the exclusion of these “historical artisans” creates blockages in the labor market and that their know-how is valuable for the survival of local catering businesses.
Beyond a corporatist quarrel, this debate puts the theme of heritage preservation back on the agenda. Restoration is not just a matter of technique. Improper intervention can cause irreversible damage. By broadening the criteria for access to the profession, an overall decline in the quality of operations could harm the heritage but also the international reputation of Italy, which sends its restorers around the world to honor commitments made following conflicts or natural disasters. The concept of “adequate competence” is above all too vague. Without strict scientific criteria for future public selection, how can we guarantee that new restorers “by experience” – often acquired on contemporary building sites – will have the capacity to manage the complexity of a Renaissance fresco or an ancient sculpture? The implementing decree from the Ministry of Culture should restore calm to a profession in turmoil.
