Applications for Cultura Cresce are on the rise: over 36 million still available

The initial results of the public call for proposals Cultura Cresce, the scheme promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Ministry of Culture and funded by the 2021–2027 Cultural and Creative Enterprises Fund – Action 1.3.1 of the PN Cultura 21-27, dedicated to the development of cultural enterprises in Southern Italy. Four months after the scheme was launched, the initiative has received 295 applications for a total investment value of €132 million and over €105 million in funding requested.

The ‘Cultura Cresce’ incentive forms part of the Cultural and Creative Enterprises Fund, an instrument implementing Action 1.3.1 of the 2021–2027 National Culture Programme, aimed at strengthening the establishment, growth and competitiveness of cultural and creative enterprises in Southern Italy. The scheme, promoted by the Ministry of Culture – Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity, is aimed at enterprises in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily and has a budget of €142.45 million, as part of a total fund of €151 million.

As the direct successor to Cultura Crea and Cultura Crea 2.0, the ministerial support schemes in place between 2016 and 2024 to support cultural enterprises in Southern Italy, the new call for proposals confirms the framework whilst introducing significant changes regarding the range of beneficiaries, investment levels and aid schemes. The model remains that of a mixed subsidy scheme, comprising a non-repayable grant and a zero-interest loan, repayable over 10 years with a 12-month grace period. The aim is to keep the cost of capital lower than that of ordinary bank loans, whilst maintaining a private co-financing share of 20 per cent. Key changes include raising the de minimis threshold to €300,000 and increasing the investment ceiling for new businesses from €400,000 to €2.5 million. The range of beneficiaries is also being expanded to include social enterprises, third sector organisations, associations and foundations engaged in economic activities. The scope of eligible activities remains unchanged, relating to the cultural and creative sectors defined by Article 25 of Law 206/2023: music, audiovisual (film, television, video games, radio and multimedia), theatre and the performing arts, tangible and intangible cultural heritage (archives, libraries and museums), visual arts and photography, architecture and design, publishing and literature, fashion and artistic crafts.

According to figures updated in April 2026, 295 applications have been submitted for investment programmes totalling €132 million, with eligible funding exceeding €105 million. The initial budget for the incentive is €142.45 million, with a remaining balance of over €36.8 million. Applications are mainly concentrated in Section B, dedicated to businesses that have been operating for less than five years and entities yet to be established, which accounts for 129 applications, 69 of which relate to initiatives not yet established. This is followed by Section A, with 107 applications relating to established businesses, and Section C, aimed at social enterprises and third sector organisations, with 61 applications. Regional participation shows a strong concentration in regions with a higher density of cultural enterprises. Campania leads the rankings with 117 applications and over €51.4 million in proposed investments. Next come Sicily, with 56 applications and around €22.5 million, and Puglia, with 52 applications and €26.8 million. The figures are lower for Calabria (27 applications), Sardinia (21), Basilicata (14) and Molise (8). By sector, applications are spread across all the cultural and creative sectors covered by the incentive, with a predominance of the audiovisual sector, which accounts for 79 projects. This is followed by tangible and intangible cultural heritage with 71 applications, theatre and dance with 41, and music with 38.

In this context, the comments by the Undersecretary for Culture Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of State for Culture, highlight the strategic value of the measure: “With Cultura Cresce, we are taking a historic step: for the first time, a call for proposals dedicated to the sector has been launched within a legislative framework that specifically recognises, promotes and protects the uniqueness of Cultural and Creative Enterprises. The Made in Italy Act has finally given full recognition to this strategic sector and has provided for stable support, with €2.7 million per year from 2024 to 2033 earmarked for CCI. The figures from the call for proposals confirm that this decision is heading in the right direction: as of 8 June 2026, 295 applications have been submitted, with a steady increase in applications since the initiative was launched. We are talking about a scheme with a budget of €142.4 million, aimed at seven regions in Southern Italy, which is demonstrating a strong capacity to generate new energy, particularly among young people, women and those wishing to turn a cultural idea into a business. Added to this is an equally significant figure: of the 489 ICC enterprises registered in the special section of the register across Italia, as many as 165 are located in the southern regions covered by the call for applications – from Campania with 60 registrations to Puglia with 46, from Sicily with 26 to Basilicata with 12, right through to Sardinia, Calabria and Molise – confirming that the scheme is having a tangible effect in bringing the sector to the fore and securing its formal recognition. It demonstrates that, when institutions develop clear, robust and credible schemes, the creative sector responds with enthusiasm, high-quality projects and confidence in the future”.