CLAC, borned as an "association of associations", has developed gradually over 20 years into a complex structure deriving from a primary insistance on the affirmation of the freedom of culture.

Its competence is based on assistance on the highest level in any specific case, but favours inter relations among various problems.

a) The Council of the Associations, consisting of representatives from every consociated group, forms a Directive Commitee with a General Secretary.

b) The Library and Documentation Center have an endowment of ten thousand volumes and is continually being enlarged: they have specialized in "The Environment and Culture of the Italian Veneto" and profit from the contributions derived from the participation in Meetings. It is open to the public, being used above all teachers.

d) CLAC is in favour of the associative activities of associations, both of group members and of guest, who are working in both environmental and cultural fields. Space is made avaliable in commom, to allow its maximum use, leaving the largest of the rooms for teaching purposes.

e) The restoration of the complex of buildings is being realized by the simpler work being undertaken by volunteers, or by the help of youth exchanges from outside the Veneto region and from abroad. For the more important work the help of the provincial Building Professional Instruction Center is preferred, because it trains and qualifies young man power in tecniques in respect for the restorations of monuments, thus reducing to a minimum the economic demands (the only costs being for materials), and at the same time opening up the cultural spaces realized by young people for other young people.

f) Since 1984 a network has been formed of international exchanges, and also of interregional groups, which has contributed contructively to the didactic model based on German experience. Exchanges are supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Veneto region.

1) CLAC is carefull in the use of its financial resources (contributions derived under Regional Law 51, 1984 title II, contributions from Provincial sources, and others), using them as equitably as possible, alloting equivalent amounts to capital accounts current and managment accounts; thus using its money with notable efficency and developing, year by year, the capital at its disposal (note the enourmous saving obtained through the Building Professional Instruction Center). Relations with public bodies are varied, particularly regard to the social cultural youth exchange, though annual Regional contribution is relative to all CLAC's activities. The Province and in particularl the Departments of Education and the enviroment contribute to the managment of the ecologic-didactic park which is used gratis for lessons on the environment. Collaboration with the Municipality is evident in the area of our restoration activity, and in the wide use, now made by local schools, of the biological botanic garden through collaboration with the Assessors of the Departmenty of Education.

2) The rescue and the evaluation of the whole area has been due to the engagement of clac since 1973. The restoration of the large Exhibition room itself, carried out by the Municipality, was possible thanks to the close collaboration with the expert from CLAC. The removal of restraint regarding the grounds and buildings (Law 1479 of 1939) was the conclusion of the campaingn by CLAC. The restoration proposed by the Building Professional Center is an extension of this engagement. CLAC has always supported the idea of re-use compatible, with the understanding of the document, both from the botanic point of view and the industrial archeaological one. The campaign for saving San Francesco -the first hospital (1470) in Padua-, was carried out on analogous lines; also (though not broadcast) a valuable contribution of salvage work on the relative historical documentation was made in collaboration with the State Archives of Padua.

3) After 20 years of teaching activity CLAC is today qualified as a center of enviromental studies , associated with other more highly qualified centers of Italy, and has contributed to the creation of a network among them. The teaching activity is multiple, and is explained in couses for teachers, conference, specified visits in the territory and experiments in the ecologic didactic park relized in this aim, also laboratories for mineralogogy, archaeology, informatics, astronomy (planetarium and telescope), and manual and expressive work. CLAC has been chosen to host the UNESCO CLUB in Padua in 1991.

4) CLAC is in favour of associative activities and has takenpart directly in arousig interest and in informing citezens on matters of environmental and cultural problems, using the most appropiate means of communication, and acting as intermediary between the citizen and the national and international organizations. The Documentation Center, the Library and the participation in Congresses and meetings all play their parts.

5) CLAC welcomes new spontaneous additions of groups interested in enviromental and cultural well-being, and provides the possibility and the space that helps to stimulate individuals in society. Overcoming problems by voluntary collaboartion favours the creations of job-qualification and of co-operation among young people. International and inter-regional exchanges allow comparison between different cultural and behavioural problems. This exchange model has proved effective in the regional center of foreign delegations. An example of qualified occupation is, among others, the relationship with the Building Professional Center. CLAC is also interested in the placing of conscientious objectors within its associated activities.

6) Availing itself of its public space CLAC encourages its various associations to emerge for their specific limits in order to undertake any activity advatageous to citizen in general, not only those within their own circle. Participation in the Comunità per le Libere Attività Culturali requires no membership ticket. Except in particularl case all the activities of the Association are always open to the public.

7) CLAC, by its statue, assures liberty of information and of political indipendence essential conditions for being able to collaborate with State schools. Its aims has been always been not sectarian, interdisciplinary culture, availing itself of its close connections with the University of Padua.