Month: May 2022

by Patrizia Luongo, June 2011

“The relatively low proportion of immigrants on total population has at least two implication: on one side, it reduces criticism in the management and provision of social services, but, on the other, it also reduces the potentially important contribution that immigrants can give to the development of the region.

Moreover, during the last years, citizens from Apulia start again to migrate to the Centre-North of Italy, and this figure is still more worrying when one considers that, in most cases, emigrants are highly qualified young people, who do not find job opportunities in the region.“

A timeline of how the Region has tried to incentivate young people to stay and build in Puglia:

Project Bollenti Spiriti, 2005 – first series of initiatives that saw young people as a resource for regional growth

Project Tutti i giovani sono una risorsa, 2015-2020

Project Puglia ti vorrei, 2021-2025 – last year over 2000 young people were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on previous and future initiatives and projects launched by the Region. One meeting, for instance, was mainly focused on youth and entrepreneurship, while another one on Economy and Culture. However, only a limited number of people (invitation only) were able to attend.

sources:

https://www.sciencespo.fr/coesionet/sites/default/files/Case%20Study_Puglia.pdf

https://www.regione.puglia.it/web/politiche-giovanili

https://regione.puglia.it/web/programma-politiche-giovanili

https://partecipazione.regione.puglia.it/processes/pugliativorrei/f/467/meetings/900?filter%5Bdate%5D%5B%5D=past

I realise that the success of this project relies heavily on the people who will accompany me throughout this journey. And by ‘success,’ I’m not talking about seeing my face on the cover of some major national newspaper, or Harry Styles coming to the inauguration and then serenading me (that would be watermelon-sugar sweet though).

To be honest, at this point I am not really worried about it being a complete/partial/semi (un)success or not. I am worried about being able to find the right people. How am I going to do that?

These are some of the things I’m doing/planning on doing in order to find artists I could work with:

• I joined the UAL Founders and Freelancers channel on The Dots;
• I plan on designing and printing out some flyers to hang on campus;
• I’d like to organise a workshop with a few digital artists, asking them to create designs inspired by some stories/images I will have shown them beforehand (maybe?) (all to be decided/scheduled).

Good enough? Probably not. We’ll see!

Will update.

Through a personal acquaintance, I reached out to someone in the Regional committee (tourism and events) who is currently looking for and working with local businesses who can provide input on the current Puglia place branding, reflecting on both its strengths and weaknesses. Great timing for me!

I submitted my proposal to her asking for feedback and advice, specifically in terms of applying for regional funding opportunities, and also offering to collaborate on future projects.

Today, incidentally, I also came across a very interesting initiative advertised on LinkedIn, and other platforms, by the Regione Puglia. It’s called Puglia365, a project that will see members of the regional committee traveling around Puglia to meet with and talk to people to understand what the future of the region might look like, in terms of cultural initiatives, marketing strategies, branding, tourism, etc.

I think this is an excellent opportunity to think about how Puglia is perceived by the rest of the world, and how to reach out to young people and make them fall in love with everything the region has to offer. Not only natural beauties but also a rich history and tapestry of voices and stories. I am going to try and find a way to be part of this change. First of all, let’s see what she has to say and work from there. Meanwhile, for Project 6, I will need to clarify (to myself, first of all) what I want to achieve with this project (what, why, how, and what-if), and think of a first intervention to test my ideas.

I don’t have much time, but I’m already thinking of a possible intervention that I can at least plan.

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