Abstract

In Italy, during the pandemic, strategic territorial projects were developed or grew based on the creation of systemic actions inspiring policies. An example of this is the path started up in the Marche Region: a bottom-up process, thanks to the commitment of the Municipality of Recanati, which led to the emergence and valorisation of experiences, the building of transversal competences and the birth of a network of inter-sectoral and regional cooperation on the issue. The path has generated a series of results, the most significant of which – described in the article – are: in 2021 the inclusion of cultural welfare as a specific action in the Marche Region’s 2021-2023 Three-Year Culture Plan; a regional call for ETSs to support cross-sectoral cultural welfare activities; the birth of the Network for Cultural Welfare in the Marche Region (welfareculturalemarche. it) which will formally evolve into an association in 2024; in the 2022-2023 school year the launch of the «Art and culture for wellbeing and health» course of studies at the «V. Bonifazi» State Higher Education Institute in Recanati. All contextual elements that are enablers for future developments.