Cultural Initiatives for Sustainable Development and Social Regeneration: A Case Study of riGenerazione Futuro Using the UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators.

The research is grounded in the theoretical perspective of cultural sustainability as an integral pillar of sustainable development, emphasizing the transformative role of culture in fostering social cohesion, inclusion, and well-being. Particularly, this paper investigates the challenges and opportunities associated with using cultural initiatives for sustainable social development and regeneration in peripheral areas. The research methodology combines a case study approach with mixed-method techniques. It adopts the UNESCO Culture 2030 Indicators as both an evaluative and conceptual framework to analyze the multidimensional impacts of cultural initiatives, by focusing on the project riGenerazione Futuro. The project is based on a matchfunding scheme involving a crowdfunding platform, a major Italian corporation and a cultural association, aimed to promote cultural-based regeneration and social inclusion projects in two Italian regions, Calabria and Sicily. A customized questionnaire was administered to project stakeholders, alongside semi-structured interviews. This research contributes to the broader discussion on cultural sustainability by providing empirical evidence from a real-world initiative and suggesting pathways for improving impact evaluation practices in the cultural and creative industries.