The Olivetti Award for cultural accessibility is launched

The Ministry of Culture is establishing the Olivetti Award for cultural accessibility, a recognition dedicated to projects that broaden access to culture, strengthen community participation and promote social inclusion and human development through cultural heritage, activities and welfare.

The initiative draws on the legacy of Adriano Olivetti, an Italian entrepreneur and visionary, and on the principles of the Council of Europe's Faro Convention, which recognises the value of cultural heritage as a resource for society and communities.

“The Olivetti Plan interprets culture in its social vocation. For this reason, the Award aims to give value to the experiences that make heritage and creativity tools for participation, inclusion and shared growth. It is a recognition for those who strengthen the bond between culture and communities, in the spirit of Adriano Olivetti's vision”, says the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli.

Who can take part

The Award is open to public and private companies, cultural institutions, Third Sector bodies, civil society organisations, local communities and institutes of the Ministry of Culture.

The Award categories

The Award is divided into four categories. The first, Museums, cultural heritage and territory, includes archives, libraries, archaeological parks, superintendencies and cultural institutes. The second, Cultural activities, is aimed at festival and event organisers, theatre and dance companies, music institutions, publishers, bookshops, cultural associations and Third Sector bodies. The third, Corporate welfare and cultural regeneration, is dedicated to projects promoted by public and private companies to foster the cultural well-being of workers and strengthen the bond between business and territory. The fourth, Experimental projects by MiC institutes, is reserved for the Ministry's structures that have developed innovative models that can be replicated across the entire national cultural system..

Applications and deadlines

You can submit your application directly from the portal, accessing the dedicated procedure with your digital identity. Applications will be assessed by a commission appointed by the Ministry of Culture.

The deadline for submitting applications is 15 September 2026. The results of the selection will be communicated by November 2026.

For more information, read the full press release on the Ministry's website (opens on another site).