Culture-led urban regeneration: sustainability models and practices for bottom-up cultural regeneration. The Italian case of Farm Cultural Park.

Abstract

Sustainability is at the heart of the debate about cultural organizations and is one of the more discussed topics inside them. Different approaches can be used when dealing with it and the literature on the topic is wide and complex. This dissertation is meant to explore how cultural managers working in independent organizations perceive sustainability and the extent to which their role is fundamental to secure the sustainability of their organization. Appropriate research questions were drawn from the comprehensive examination of the literature and designed in order to narrow the research focus to the specific aims. This paper studies the case of Farm Cultural Park, an independent cultural and contemporary art centre in Favara, Italy, that was created in June 2010 after the initiative of a notary and his wife. The case examines different issues related to the achievement of sustainability of the organization, considered from a holistic point of view that includes the cultural, economic, organizational and social spheres. The dissertation utilizes a qualitative research methodology that includes one indepth interview to the founder, several informal conversations with the people involved in the project and the participant observation of the researcher, that has spent one month on the field to gather the necessary information and elaborate its personal considerations. Recommendations are provided in conclusion, based on three brief examples of best practices that cover the areas of sustainability mentioned above on which, according to the researcher, is opportune to consider some applications in order to extend the life-cycle of the organization.