Abstract

Cultural regeneration is one of the most important issues among those referring to urban development and should be addressed to all citizens and urban areas: notwithstanding that, many suburban districts are still undeveloped and disadvantaged compared to other areas. In the last decades however, local and national governments have developed ad hoc policies in order to foster urban regeneration using integrated strategies among different branches of social life, including the cultural sector. Some cities have improved their cultural offer by creating spaces and sustaining cultural production outside the central districts and by promoting blockbuster events also in the suburbs. This paper analyses the results of a research project carried out by Eccom and financed by Compagnia di San Paolo about the use of culture in urban regeneration processes in four big Italian cities: Turin, Rome, Palermo and Catania. The research projects outlined some good practices and at the same time identified problems and crucial issues, which should be solved in order to improve the role of culture in these processes and to foster community benefits.