Giovanna MelandriDBE (born 28 January 1962) is an Italian-Americanpolitician and expert in cultural policy. She served in the Italian Chamber of Deputies from 1994 to 2012,representing various centre-left political formations. Melandri held ministerial roles in the Italian government,including Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities (1998 to 2001) and Minister for Youth Policies and Sport (2006 to 2008). She later presided over the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts (2012-2022) in Rome and currently chairs the Human Foundation,a nonprofit organization focused on social innovation.[1]
Between 1983 and 1987,Melandri coordinated a working group focused on industrial and technological policy at Montedison,an Italian chemical company. She subsequently joined Legambiente,an environmental organization in Italy,where she worked in the field of international relations. In 1990,she took part in the Bergen Conference on Sustainable Development,and in 1992,she served as a member of the Italian delegation to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.[2]
On 17 May 2006,she was appointed Minister for Youth Policies and Sport in the second Prodi government. In 2007,following the formation of the Democratic Party (PD),she joined the new party as a founding member. She was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1994 with the PDS and was later re-elected in subsequent terms with the DS and the PD.[citation needed]
In the Legislature XIII of Italy (1996–1998),she was a member of the Culture Committee prior to her appointment as Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities. During this period,she proposed legislation on issues such as adoption,bioethics,assisted reproduction technology,and extradition to countries where the death penalty is practiced.[citation needed] She also introduced bills related to publishing,telecommunications,and public broadcasting. In 1997,she represented Italy at the first World Forum on Television,organized by the United Nations.[4]
From 1998 to 2001,Melandri served as Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities. During her tenure,public funding for cultural policy reportedly exceeded €3 billion,and tax incentives for cultural investment were introduced. Restoration projects were undertaken,and policies supporting contemporary art and architecture were developed. A national law establishing the MAXXI museum was passed. In 1999,she co-organized the international forum "Culture Counts:Financing Resources and the Economics of Culture and Sustainable Development" in Florence,alongside World Bank president James Wolfensohn and U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton. In 2000,she participated as the European representative at the White House Conference on Culture and Diplomacy,hosted by President Bill Clinton.
In the Legislature XIV of Italy (2001–2006),Melandri was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee,the Italian parliamentary delegations to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union,and the Parliamentary Supervisory Commission on RAI,the national public broadcaster. She introduced bills relating to cinema,book promotion,and the protection of cultural heritage.
In the Legislature XV of Italy (2006–2008),she was appointed Minister for Youth Policies and Sport. In this role,she launched initiatives such as "Young Ideas Change Italy" (Giovani idee cambiano l'Italia) to support youth entrepreneurship,and "Let's Give Credit" (Diamogli credito),in collaboration with the Associazione Bancaria Italiana. She also established two public funds,one for youth policies and one for inclusive sport initiatives. Together with Giuliano Amato,then Minister of the Interior,she initiated the first Youth Committee for Interreligious Dialogue.
During the Legislature XVI of Italy (2008–2012),she was a member of the Committee on Culture,Education,and Science,and was re-elected to the Parliamentary Supervisory Commission on RAI.
Other activities
In 2024,Melandri joined the board of directors of Kering,a global luxury group.[1]
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