Anyone who loves books has, sooner or later, fantasized about it: dropping everything and opening a bookstore. Bookshelves handpicked one by one, a reading nook, customers who become friends over the books. Usually, it remains a pipe dream for one very practical reason: money.
Now that reason weighs a little less heavily. The Ministry of Culture has just published the“Bookstores Under 35” call for proposals: up to 24,000 euros in non-repayable grants for those under 35 who want to open an independent bookstore or have already recently started one. And if you live in Rome, this news has an extra reason to interest you.
4 million euros available, two ways to access it
The call for proposals is national, not limited to the capital: those living in Rome start with the exact same requirements as those living elsewhere in Italy, with no preferential treatment. The funds are divided into two categories:
- 1 million euros is reserved for those who have already opened their own bookstore after December 30, 2023, in small towns (with fewer than 5,000 residents) in inland areas where there are no other bookstores;
- The remaining 3 million, on the other hand, cover a broader audience: initiatives launched after June 30, 2024, or those yet to open, with priority given to those targeting disadvantaged areas or areas lacking bookstores and public libraries. In all other cases, however, the focus is on independent bookstores, not affiliated with chains or publishing groups.
In both cases, the non-repayable grant amounts to up to 24,000€ per project, plus a bonus of up to 1,000€ if there are documented expenses for training courses or mentoring activities.
Because in Rome, this news matters twice as much
In the capital, the issue of independent bookstores isn’t an abstract one—it’s an open wound. According to data from the Rome Chamber of Commerce, by the end of 2025 there were 401 bookstores in the city and province , 6% fewer than in 2022—a steeper decline than in the rest of Italy.
The industry union estimates that, on average, one bookstore closes in the city every month.
The names will sound familiar to those who live in Rome: Bookish in Montesacro, after ten years in business; Pessime Idee at Fleming; Odradek on Via dei Banchi Vecchi; La Tana del Libro in Garbatella. Every closure took away more than just a bookshelf: it was a place where authors were introduced, reading groups formed, and people met up in the same neighborhood.
Just as the national call for proposals opens for applications, the City Council has approved simpler rules for independent bookstores that want to occupy public space with outdoor seating areas and cultural events. A small step in the same direction.
In this context, the ministry’s call for proposals offers a concrete opportunity for those in Rome who want to change the course of things rather than just stand by and watch.
How and when to apply
Applications open at 3:00 p.m. on June 15, 2026, and remain open until 3:00 p.m. on September 13, 2026. They must be submitted exclusively via certified email (PEC) to dg-bic.nuovelibrerie@pec.cultura.gov.it, using the forms available for download from the website of the General Directorate of Libraries and Cultural Institutions.
For questions about the call for proposals, the Ministry has set up a dedicated email address: dg-bic.nuovelibrerie.helpdesk@cultura.gov.it.
It’s best not to wait until the last week: between forms to fill out and documentation to prepare, a call for proposals like this requires time to be tackled calmly.
