Matera 2019: Community Projects and Cultural Initiatives in Basilicata

Matera, the 2019 European Capital of Culture, hosts a series of community-driven cultural initiatives. The 'Corsa dei Poveri Cristi' is a non-competitive race where participants carry a cross inscribed with their personal burden, blending spirituality with irreverent humor. 'Se i Sassi Potessero Raccontare' promotes participatory reading as a tool for intercultural dialogue and citizenship. 'Compostiamo Matera' focuses on recycling organic waste using digital fabrication like 3D printing and Arduino electronics to build composters with community involvement. 'Ospita un Artista' in Rotondella invites three to five artists (visual, performers, videomakers, poets) to stay with local families for a week, exploring the territory's natural, historical, and culinary heritage. 'Parco degli Angeli' in the Serra Rifusa district, an unfinished urban park from the 1990s, is being revitalized through participatory design of street furniture. 'Dialetto Tursitano – Una Risorsa' by the Tursah association aims to preserve the local dialect of Tursi by collecting audio and video fragments from weddings, theater, and folklore. These projects are part of Matera 2019's broader call for cultural associations, reported by Marco Enrico Giacomelli on Artribune.