Italian Association of Paper and Printing Museums

The Associazione Italiana dei Musei della Carta e della Stampa (AIMSC) — the Italian Association of Paper and Printing Museums — is a private, non-profit organisation whose stated purpose is to promote and give visibility to museums and collections that preserve the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of the graphic arts and of paper production. It presents itself as a network: a "virtuous and valid connection" among museums that gather the techniques and experiences of ancient crafts, which the association describes as the original essence of modern knowledge society. The association traces its origins to the first Congress of Printing and Paper Museums, hosted by Museum Graphia – Museo Internazionale della Stampa in Urbino in 2003. On 27 June 2005, associations, experts and enthusiasts signed AIMSC's founding deed before a notary, formally constituting the organisation. Its mission, as set out on its website, is to collect, conserve and reveal the "hidden heritage" of small museums that tell stories of excellence and of crafts requiring passion and dedication — across all stages of the paper-and-print chain, from papermaking to type founding, forme preparation, printing and bookbinding, through to publishing. AIMSC works to support museums in their productive, territorial and social contexts, encouraging widespread interest and participation and fostering a culture of collaboration among museums, institutions, experts, companies, schools and associations in the paper-and-print supply chain. It frames this work as benefiting all citizens, and especially children and young people, whom it calls its true "living heritage". The association also promotes museums as destinations for educational itineraries designed for students. Operationally, AIMSC maintains a directory and map of member museums, allowing visitors to explore the network's sites and plan itineraries. It engages supporting members — including institutional supporters, companies and friends — and publishes news and articles on its website. Recent items highlighted on the site include a talk titled "Tracce Inedite: L'Arte Tipografica Mette le Ali alla Materia" with Giovanni (Gianni) Ottaviani, part of the "Testimoni di Carattere" initiative, and the XIX AIMSC Congress held in Milan, alongside references to museums such as the Museo della Carta di Pescia. The association thus functions as a sector body and cultural network rather than a commercial manufacturer, while operating under its own registered name and identity.

AIMSC's history begins with a gathering of the sector it now represents. In 2003, Museum Graphia – Museo Internazionale della Stampa in Urbino hosted the first Congress of Printing and Paper Museums. That experience inspired associations, experts and enthusiasts to formalise a national body. On 27 June 2005, before a notary, they signed the founding deed of the Associazione Italiana dei Musei della Carta e della Stampa, establishing AIMSC as a private non-profit organisation. The founding purpose was to create a network — described by the association as a "virtuous and valid connection" — among museums that collect the techniques and experiences of ancient crafts. These crafts, in AIMSC's framing, represent the original essence of modern knowledge society. The association set out to collect, conserve and reveal the hidden heritage of small museums that tell stories of excellence and of trades requiring passion and dedication, covering every stage from paper manufacture to type founding, forme preparation, printing and bookbinding, and on to publishing. From the outset AIMSC also took on an advocacy and educational role. It committed to defending and supporting museums and to proposing them as destinations within educational itineraries designed for students. It sought to accompany museums in their various productive, territorial and social contexts, feeding widespread interest and participation and fostering a culture of collaboration among museums, institutions, experts, companies, schools and associations of the paper-and-print supply chain, for the benefit of all citizens and especially children and young people — described as the true "living heritage". Over the years the association has worked to grow by relying on its network and supporters. Its website presents a full list of member museum sites and a geographic map to help visitors plan itineraries, alongside sections for institutional supporting members, supporting companies and friends. It also publishes news and articles, and organises or promotes congresses and cultural events. Among the activities highlighted on its site are the "Testimoni di Carattere" initiative — including a talk by Giovanni (Gianni) Ottaviani titled "Tracce Inedite: L'Arte Tipografica Mette le Ali alla Materia" — and the XIX AIMSC Congress held in Milan, framed around the book's past, present and future. References to institutions such as the Museo della Carta di Pescia illustrate the kind of small, specialised museums the network represents. Through this combination of networking, mapping, advocacy and events, AIMSC has positioned itself as a reference point for Italy's paper and printing heritage community.

• 2026

  XIX AIMSC Congress held in Milan, framed around the book's past, present and future.

• 2005

  On 27 June, associations, experts and enthusiasts signed AIMSC's founding deed before a notary, constituting the association.

• 2003

  First Congress of Printing and Paper Museums hosted by Museum Graphia – Museo Internazionale della Stampa in Urbino, inspiring AIMSC's creation.

A private non-profit association acting as a collaborative network and advocacy body for Italy's paper and printing museums, collections and heritage crafts.

• Museum network and directory

  A full list of member museum sites allowing users to explore the network's cultural heritage.

• Museum map

  A geographic map of member museums to help visitors plan itineraries.

• Educational itineraries

  Museum visits proposed as destinations within educational itineraries designed for students.

• News and articles

  Published updates and articles on paper and printing heritage and association activities.

1. 1Benvenuti in AIMSC - AIMSC Associazione Italiana Musei della Stampa e della Cartaaimsc.it
2. 2CHI SIAMO - AIMSC Associazione Italiana Musei della Stampa e della Cartaaimsc.it
3. 3Associazione Italiana dei Musei della Carta e della Stampawikidata.org