Annual Report of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, stakeholder engagement and innovation

The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence was the first fabriceria in Italy to publish its Annual Report in 2016, beginning an annual process of social, economic and financial reporting.
Every year, the Annual Report aims to narrate the successes and difficulties that the Foundation overcomes in protecting the cultural and artistic heritage and preserving the memory of the city, through a detailed description of the activities, events, and technical interventions carried out over time.

Social reporting  aims also at responding to the growing request for transparency coming from stakeholders,. but also to the need to create an accountability tool, which allows to report on the responsibilities, behaviours and environmental and economic results deriving from the activities carried out by the organisation, that encourages the rediscovery and renewal of dialogue with believers and the local communities in an innovative way.

ARCO’s Social Economy Unit supported the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in its reporting through a stakeholder engagement process that involved the President, the General Manager and all the representatives of specific areas. The main contents and the main purposes of the Annual Report have, thus, been outlined through collective discussion.

The collection of qualitative and quantitative data was carried out thanks to the elaboration of templates to which all Opera offices contributed. With the help of the employees and collaborators, it was possible to map the stakeholders and have a clearer picture of the social impact generated for the community.

The collection of qualitative and quantitative data took place thanks to the elaboration of templates to which all the Opera’s offices contributed. With the help of employees and collaborators, it was possible to map the stakeholders and get a clearer picture of the social impact generated for the community.

Social Impact Assessment

The social reporting process of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore was enriched by a social impact assessment carried out thanks to the EHD – Evaluating Human Development – methodology (developed by ARCO researchers) and centred on the human development paradigm and the Capabilities approach of Amartya Sen (Nobel Prize for Economics in 1999).

The EHD methodology, better than others, made it possible to capture and measure the social impact of the Work. Through the elaboration and administration of a questionnaire, it was possible, in fact, to focus mainly on the multidimensional and intangible effects produced on stakeholders and to better assess the impact on their well-being.

Environmental impact assessment

For the first time in 2022, the drafting of the Annual Report was also an opportunity to measure ‘Good Environmental Practices’, i.e. the extent to which Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore contributes to environmental sustainability and the related challenges. In particular, the following were assessed: waste management, wastewater management, especially from washing, the rainwater collection system, limiting energy consumption and maximising plant efficiency.

Thematic focuses

In order to go beyond a simple administrative exercise, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore together with the Social Economy Unit has identified a topic each year, on special anniversaries, for in-depth study. The thematic focuses thus enable stakeholders to learn about the history, value and peculiarities of the artistic and cultural heritage of the monumental complex.

• 2019 – The history of the location of Michelangelo’s David
• 2020 – VI centenary of Brunelleschi’s Dome
• 2021 – 7th centenary of the death of Dante Alighieri
• 2022 – History and restoration of the Baptistery of San Giovanni
• 2023 – The Cathedral