PROVINCIA DI PADOVA

The Province is the intermediate local government that promotes the development of local communities, and represents the interests expressed by its 930.000 inhabitants. Among others, it promotes the internationalization of schools, not for profit organization and municipalities, participating to the debate about EU policies for culture, sports, economic development. The Province of Padova government has responsibilities related to environment, transport, technical assistance to local governments and equal opportunities. In addition to these tasks the Province has responsibilities concerning cultural heritage. It is the owner of six provincial museums whose management has been outsourced to two private companies. Butterfly Arc s.r.l. manages the the Museum of Geology and Palaeontology, the Bacchiglione River Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Living Insects, the Museum of Industrial Machines. The Museum of Medical History is managed by the company Palazzo della Salute s.r.l.. Both are cultural and creative companies with a background in cultural projects and audience development. The Province manages a museum portal and Reteventi, a website that advertises the cultural events of 104 cities of the Province. It runs special programmes on cultural heritage awareness, it finances libraries promoting reading projects, it coordinates the provincial library network system and is responsible for the technical development and the staff training. From 2020 Provincia di Padova is also coordinator of the European KA2 project Musent (https://www.mus-net.eu/) to create a strategic partnership of interactive and innovative museums. The project involve partners from Italy, Polland, Spain and Slovania, one of the objective of the network is also to exchenge ESC volunteers among the different strutures to share and exchange competences and experience.