Social innovation in cultural heritage management: a Neapolitan perspective

Italy has one of the biggest cultural heritage in the world, but nowadays it is facing a strong crisis, concerning its management and key resources (economic, human, financial, etc). This article aims to contribute to social innovation studies by focusing on the emergence of new actors in cultural heritage management field, through an approach centered on hybrid organizational form. This is a preliminary study which analyze cultural initiatives carried out by social enterprises that have positive impacts, both social and economic, in terms of development of the local community and tourist attraction. According with the preliminary results, beyond public and private administration, Neapolitan social enterprises apply a hybrid organizational form in cultural heritage management, efficiently and effectively. Enterprises studied, in which social entrepreneurship and innovative business model emerge, play an active role responding to both individual and social needs through a cooperative and collaborative attitude.