Participatory incubator of cultural initiatives within a local development strategy in the Sicani area in Sicily

Abstract

The inner area "Sicani" in Sicily, made up of 12 municipalities of the "Agrigentino", with an important rural, hilly and mountainous component, is characterised by a high rate of depopulation, a high ageing population, lower income levels compared to nearby urban areas and difficulties in accessing public services and road mobility networks. Despite the social and functional problems of the territory, the resident communities of these small urban centres still have deep-rooted traditions and cultural and festive expressions that socially and economically activate the area by attracting emigrants and tourists at certain times of the year. The project aims to identify cultural events and festive manifestations with roots and positive impact at the local level that need to be promoted; convene the different associative actors, organisations and local administrations that manage cultural and festive events; set up monitoring and incubation tables for the development of permanent and integrated cultural initiatives; develop participatory project management models that integrate associations and territories; manage funding and collaborate in the implementation of projects. This initiative is expected to incubate one project per municipality per year, seeking the territorial integration of initiatives, inter-institutional partnership and collaboration between associations, for the management of cultural and festive events with local roots and with identity and heritage implications.