Reimmaginare i margini urbani: ex manicomi, arte e memoria collettiva

This Chapter explores how art and design can contribute to reactivating the collective memory of former psychiatric institutions, fostering processes of participatory reappropriation. The analysis focuses on two projects carried out at the former "Pionta" neuropsychiatric hospital in Arezzo: "Siamo tutte Elettra" and "Chimere." These interventions highlight how the memory of madness can become a common good, generating new forms of sociality and care. Both projects embody the concept of "openness," breaking down the barriers between past and present, inside and outside. By transforming the historical archive of the former neuropsychiatric hospital into a vital urban resource, the Pionta site can evolve into a significant cultural hub. The creation of such a distinct space represents the opportunity to establish the Pionta as a permanent site for community engagement through artistic and narrative initiatives, restoring the voice and identity of the location to the local community.