Towards an expanded concept of welfare definition. Cultural welfare projects of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano

The funding of cultural activities in the Province of Bolzano has long been related to the need for a new and broader concept of welfare, in order not to intend it as a mere health, social security, home, work and school policy. Such a need has been sensed for at least fifteen years, aiming at preventing crisis situations that might arise from neglected urban suburbs, the rising average age of the population, employment difficulties that the latest economic trends have ungenerously leaned against younger generations and women. The many interventions focused on urban peripheries, the theme of culture and health, the approval of new laws for youth employment in the cultural field, social housing policies related to culture. The high cultural participation in recent decades and the widespread presence of lifelong learning activities have had many well known positive impacts on the local economy. One striking example is the pharmaceutical expenditure in class A -SSN (National Sanitary Service): the Province of Bolzano for instance has the lowest expenditure per capita in antibiotics in Italy, and while the average Italian medical expenses add up to 134,4 euro, in our province they are limited to 97 euro each.