Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage

The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage is responsible for the preservation, management enhancement and use of the State’s art and museum complex and assumes the responsibilities that were under the Directorate of the Museums until now.

The Directorate includes:

Artistic-Scientific Sector, which is responsible for the preservation, restoration, enhancement and dissemination of knowledge, of the cultural and artistic patrimony of the State; it is responsible for scientific research and delivering training programs in its area of expertise;

Management-Administrative Sector, which supervises organizational and economic aspects of the patrimony as well as access to it

The Directorate oversees the cultural assets of the Holy See, of Vatican City State, and of the Bodies, Administrations, Authorities and Institutes that have their offices within the State, as well as those of the properties in which, in accordance with articles 15 and 16 of the Lateran Treaty, it exercises the functions provided for by State legislation on the protection of cultural assets, in accordance with international obligations, pursuant to Article 1, paragraph 4, of Law No. LXXI on Sources of Law.

The Directorate advises on the acquisition of new works and submits it to the approval of the Bodies of Government, carries out studies and research and publishes scientific material regarding the artistic and cultural heritage of the State and those entrusted to the State; develops projects for reproduction, divulgation and commercial usage.

(Article 14 of the Law on the Governance of Vatican City State, No. CCLXXIV of 25 November 2018).