Bridging the gap between education and the labour market in the cultural sector: this is the goal behind the creation of the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) Southern Italy, a strategic alliance between public and private stakeholders to redesign the skills ecosystem of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI).

As a direct expression of the Pact for Skills of the European Commission, the Partnership represents the outcome of an international debate that now finds an operational dimension in Southern Italy. Coordination is entrusted to Materahub, which will lead a network of excellence made up of key actors from Basilicata and Puglia, with significant contributions from Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

The Network

The alliance brings together multidisciplinary expertise and diverse territories, with the participation of:

  • Basilicata: Basilicata Creativa, Fondazione Matera Basilicata 2019, Sviluppo Basilicata, Lambda Academy
  • Puglia: Puglia Creativa, Puglia Culture, ARTI Puglia, Unisco, Krill Studio
  • Technical and Interregional Support: ARTER (Emilia-Romagna) and Fondazione Fitzcarraldo (Piedmont/Puglia)

The Mission: Innovating Labour Policies

RSP Southern Italy is not just a forum for discussion, but a driver of change to make education and training provision — academic, vocational and informal — more effective. The main objectives include:

  • Expansion: Expanding the network to other stakeholders in the pilot regions and involving the remaining regions of Southern Italy.
  • International Exchange: Activating the transfer of good practices with other leading European regions in the CCI.
  • Policy Dialogue: Building consultation platforms with public decision-makers to influence the programming of the European Social Fund 2028/2035, directing funds towards the real needs of the sector.

The Brussels Meeting

The official launch will take place on 3 March 2026 in Brussels, on the occasion of the European meeting of the Regional Skills Partnerships at the European Commission. On this occasion, the Southern Italy partnership will engage with EU leadership and European partners, bringing forward the voice and needs of a territory that sees culture as a lever for economic and social development.

"The creation of the Regional Skills Partnership Southern Italy marks a fundamental turning point," say representatives from Materahub. "We are not just talking about training, but about how to transform creativity into a structured asset, capable of generating quality employment and engaging with institutions to jointly shape the policies of the next decade."