I beni culturali immateriali e la partecipazione della società nella loro salvaguardia: dalle convenzioni internazionali alla normativa in Italia e Spagna

This essay analyzes the right to participation in cultural life in Italy and Spain, having regard to intangible cultural heritage. Section I offers a general overview of the concept of participation in cultural life at international level, of the evolution of the notion of cultural rights, and of the emerging model of cultural welfare. Sections II and III provide an account of the contents of the Unesco’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society respectively. In Sections IV and V the attention focuses on the degree of recognition of intangible cultural heritage and on the implementation of the right to participation in cultural life at national and regional level in Italy and Spain. Section VI concludes with some reflections on the different approaches adopted by Italy and Spain to these topics.