Lazio Culture City 2019: €100k Prize for Best Cultural Project

The Lazio Region has launched the second edition of 'Città della Cultura del Lazio', offering a €100,000 prize to the winning municipality or group of contiguous municipalities. The initiative, inspired by the European Capital of Culture and Italian Capital of Culture models, aims to creatively reflect on local identity and develop economic, entrepreneurial, and social strategies. Regional Economic Development Councillor Gian Paolo Manzella, who promoted the program in 2016, noted that the first edition attracted 29 applications involving 150 municipalities. The 2018 winner was the 'Novecento' project by Colleferro, in collaboration with Artena, Labico, Paliano, and Valmontone, which reinterpreted the industrial past of the city designed by engineer Riccardo Morandi in 1935. Ongoing developments include a multidisciplinary network of foundation cities and a film 'Colleferro ‘900' produced by Filmedea. Regional President Nicola Zingaretti emphasized that culture drives economic development and that small communities can find their place in the cultural market. Applications must be submitted via certified email by September 10, 2018.