The professionalization process of cultural manager: an isomorphic view

The paper investigates the ‘professionalization’ process of the Italian cultural heritage. In particular, it aims to propose an own interpretation of the ‘professionalization’ process, as a dissemination of ‘good’ practices, adopting the point of view of new institutionalism theory. This theoretical approach frames the professionalization process, and then that of managerialization, as the material and symbolic conditioning that the institutions have on human behavior: the professional has the ability of government and management; through professional training will be ensured the dissemination of the same capacity and then the ‘good’ practices. In this scenario Italian universities seem to contribute to the dissemination of artistic-cultural heritage management practices. The research, which has purely theoretical aims, starts from a quick reference to the regulatory framework evolution and a synthesis of scientific debate on the governance of cultural heritage; then, it will propose a reflection of the role that Universities currently have in the diffusion process of professions for the government and management of cultural heritage. In this way, the paper links the governance of the artistic-cultural heritage with the ‘training process’ that universities do for professionalizing human resources. University nowadays are conducting training projects for ‘cultural manager’, sometimes anticipating the decision of Public Administration, trying to condition them, sometimes following its strategic directions.