Promoting female entrepreneurship in the cultural sector. A comparative analysis of public funding in Lazio and Andalusia

This study aims to analyze and evaluate the public funding mechanisms implemented by the Lazio Region (Italy) and the Andalusia Region (Spain), with the goal of comparing the support opportunities available in the cultural sector, specifically for female entrepreneurship. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative analyses to explore the dynamics of public funding in the two regional contexts over the period from 2014 to 2024. The qualitative analysis is conducted through a systematic review of the content of public calls, organized using a coding protocol that allows for the classification and comparison of key elements such as funding types, target beneficiaries, and selection criteria. In parallel, the quantitative component uses descriptive statistics to assess the number of published calls, the financial resources allocated, participation rates, and success rates. The data are drawn from official institutional sources, such as the Junta de Andalucía and Lazio Innova S.p.A., the in-house agency of the Lazio Region. The findings reveal significant differences between the two regions in the models used to support female entrepreneurship in the cultural field. The main discrepancies concern the selection criteria for beneficiaries, the nature of the funding provided, the amount of financial resources allocated to the cultural sector, and the level of transparency in publishing rankings of funded projects. The analysis highlights strengths and weaknesses in the funding processes of both regions, offering insights into best practices that could be effectively replicated in other contexts. Key priorities that emerge include improving the transparency of procedures while safeguarding data privacy, increasing financial investment in the cultural sector, and expanding access to funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The originality of this research lies in its comparative approach between two distinct territorial contexts, enabling a systematic analysis of public policies supporting female-led businesses in the cultural sector. A further contribution is the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods, made possible through a rigorous coding protocol that ensures consistency and depth in the examination of public calls, thereby strengthening the scientific robustness of the study.