Artists as City Makers: Rome's Urban Quality Debate

An article co-authored by Francesco Cascino (art consultant) and Raffaele Giannitelli (architect and urban planner) argues that historic Italian art cities like Florence, Rome, Venice, and Milan were built by artists, not engineers or architects. The authors contend that contemporary urban regeneration should prioritize aesthetics and citizen well-being over function, citing New York's 1970s recovery as a model where the 'I Love NY' logo shifted focus from objects to people's desires. They criticize Italian mayors for neglecting the role of artists in city-making and advocate for public art that serves residents, not tourists. The piece references artist Alfredo Pirri, who dislikes the term 'public art' because all art is inherently public. It promotes newsletters 'Incanti' (art market), 'Render' (urban regeneration), and 'PAX' (cultural tourism). The authors assert that art cities have never failed in 3,000 years and that aesthetic experience is the foundation of urban happiness and economic success.