Developing entrepreneurial skills through cultural activities

In Italy, support for youth entrepreneurship is promoted by public and private entities, aiming to enhance young people's skills through cultural and creative initiatives.

The Youth Fund for Culture (Fondo Giovani per la Cultura) supports training and orientation for young people up to twenty-nine years of age. The fund provides initiatives to implement high-level training activities in the field of cultural heritage, as well as to facilitate and support young people's entry into the job market. 

In the field of education, some Italian secondary schools and universities offer courses focused on entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sector, providing students with specific skills to start and manage initiatives.

Secondary schools play a crucial role in promoting cultural self-entrepreneurship through targeted educational programs, extracurricular activities, and Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation (Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l'Orientamento).

Some institutions have integrated subjects such as economics and marketing into their curricula, providing students with the foundation to develop entrepreneurial skills. The Liceo of Made in Italy (high school), for instance, focuses on economics, law, and business management to enhance and promote entrepreneurship among young people.

In the field of non-formal education, the following initiatives stand out:

• The Network Project (Progetto Rete) funded by the National Fund for Youth Policies and implemented by the Italian national development agency (INVITALIA), offers young people aged 16 to 35 the opportunity to access orientation, training, business creation, and internship programs, both in Italy and abroad. The initiative aims to strengthen skills required by the labor market, promote an entrepreneurial culture, and provide tools to navigate emerging professions. A key element of the project are the Territorial Hubs, dedicated spaces for guidance and training that serve as a reference point for young people seeking personal and professional growth.

• Cultura d’Impresa is an initiative designed to promote training programs (including international ones) to strengthen entrepreneurial spirit and consolidate skills. It targets students and young people who have just completed their studies, in order to:

  • Follow self-entrepreneurship programs in schools and universities.

  • Get involved in competitions and cultural exchanges for young talents, such as Mondo Digitale, Premio Marzotto, and Digithon.

• Junior Achievement Italia, a non-profit organization dedicated to entrepreneurial education and financial literacy, fosters the connection between the academic and professional worlds. It offers educational programs to develop entrepreneurial, technical, and digital skills, both in classrooms and remotely, which can also be recognized as PCTO (Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation) experiences.

• As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) of the Ministry of Culture, the Development of the Film Industry (Cinecittà Project) includes training programs in the following professional areas: business/managerial; creative/artistic; technical workers. Among the required professional figures, young talents are selected and trained to support the evolution of operators in the cultural and creative industries.

Supporting young entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors

Nuove Imprese a Tasso Zero (NITO-ON) is the incentive promoted by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (Miistero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy) that supports micro and small businesses predominantly or entirely composed of young people aged 18 to 35 and women of all ages. The incentives are available throughout Italy and consist of a combination of zero-interest financing and non-repayable grants for business projects with eligible expenses of up to €3 million, which can cover up to 90% of the total eligible costs.

The program funds enterprises with investment projects aimed at launching new initiatives or expanding, diversifying, or transforming existing activities in the manufacturing, services, commerce, and tourism sectors.

As part of the Rete project several initiatives have been introduced, including the Entrepreneurship Lab. The project involves university students from all faculties across Italy, aiming to highlight the most innovative business ideas. Participants, working in teams, can submit their proposals for the creation of a new business in a sector of their choice.