Creativity as a tool of local empowerment and socio-cultural revitalization: a study of a peripheral neighborhood in Catania

This paper deals with the geo-territorial analysis of the impacts exerted by cultural policies in a deeply marginalised suburban neighbourhood in Catania, called Librino, where in recent years many creativity-based projects have been attempting at containing socio-economic marginalisation. In fact, a no profit foundation, local actors and civic associations promoting these projects try to limit the deeply-rooted disadvantages of the territory by involving the local community, particularly the youth, in art-based activities and events. Thus, this work aims at highlighting the effects of these projects, analysed within the theoretical frame of urban and geographical studies about peripheries, by tracing the urban history of this satellite quarter and its recent evolution thanks to the brand of art and creativity.