FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Italy
Address
Via Euclide, 15Country
City
TarantoMobile Phone
+393409988214Telephone
3409988214Telephone (other)
+393409988214E-Mail (2)
associazionemangrovie@pec.itWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2019Contact Person1
Cosimo CalabreseContact Person 2
Mario PagnottellaOrganisation Type
OtherFields of Activity
Arts, Environment/Sustainable development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Media, OthersGeneral Information
Associazione Mangrovie is a leading non-profit cultural organization based in Taranto, Italy, dedicated to urban regeneration and social innovation. Founded to bridge the gap between neglected urban spaces and community needs, the association operates at the intersection of contemporary art, social inclusion, and active citizenship. Mangrovie manages Casa Viola, a vital community hub in the heart of Taranto’s Old Town, and serves as a key partner in the Galattica network (a Puglia Region youth initiative). By fostering collaborations between local institutions, international artists, and citizens, Mangrovie transforms the "Two Seas City" into a laboratory for cultural resilience. Their approach treats urban space not just as a location, but as a living ecosystem where creativity drives sustainable development and strengthens the social fabric of one of the Mediterranean’s most complex and fascinating industrial cities.
Mission and Objectives
The mission of Associazione Mangrovie is to trigger urban and social transformation through the power of culture and shared beauty. We believe that reclaiming public space is the first step toward reclaiming civic identity.
Key Objectives:
Urban Regeneration: Implementing site-specific artistic interventions to revitalize marginalized or decaying urban areas.
Social Inclusion: Providing safe, creative spaces (like Casa Viola) for marginalized groups, fostering dialogue, and promoting cultural diversity.
Youth Empowerment: Acting as a regional node for youth policies, offering training, orientation, and professional opportunities in the creative industries.
Sustainable Development: Promoting a model of growth for Taranto that prioritizes cultural heritage and environmental awareness over heavy industrial dependence.
International Networking: Connecting Taranto’s local reality with global artistic and social movements to exchange best practices in urban resilience.
Main Projects / Activities
- TRUST (Taranto Regeneration Urban Street): A flagship street art festival that has brought world-renowned muralists to Taranto. Now in its third edition, TRUST has transformed the city into an open-air museum, using urban art to narrate the city’s history and its future aspirations.
- Casa Viola: A multidisciplinary community center in the Old Town. It serves as a permanent workshop for social activities, book presentations, and artistic residencies, providing a home for "human regeneration."
Galattica - Taranto Node: In collaboration with the Puglia Region, Mangrovie manages this youth hub providing orientation, workshops, and support for young professionals and activists.
Concrete Dreams: A series of initiatives and events focused on the intersection of urban architecture and community desires, fostering participatory planning.
- Social & Advocacy Events: Hosting international debates and presentations (such as the recent focus on Gaza and women in conflict) to maintain a high level of global civic awareness within the local community.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
Associazione Mangrovie aims to contribute to the Italian National Network by offering a unique model of culture-led urban resilience. Based in Taranto—a strategic Mediterranean crossroads—we provide:
A "Living Lab" Perspective: We bring hands-on experience in transforming complex, neglected urban environments into vibrant community hubs through street art (TRUST project) and social innovation (Casa Viola).
Youth Engagement Expertise: As a regional node for the Galattica network, we can facilitate connections between the ALF and Southern Italian youth, promoting active citizenship and Euro-Mediterranean values.
Physical & Creative Infrastructure: We offer our spaces, like Casa Viola, as potential venues for cross-border artistic residencies, workshops, and intercultural seminars, strengthening the network’s visibility in the South of Italy.
Best Practices in Regeneration: We can share proven methodologies on how contemporary art serves as a tool for social inclusion and conflict mediation in post-industrial contexts, enriching the national dialogue on intercultural integration.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
Joining the Anna Lindh Foundation Network is a strategic step for Mangrovie to elevate our local impact to a Euro-Mediterranean scale. Our motivations are rooted in three pillars:
Breaking Geographic Isolation: Taranto shares historical, social, and environmental challenges with many cities across the Mediterranean. We seek to exchange strategies with peers in the network to address common issues such as urban decay and social fragmentation.
Fostering Intercultural Dialogue through Art: We believe that urban art is a universal language. By joining ALF, we aim to build international partnerships for the TRUST festival, involving artists from both shores of the Mediterranean to narrate shared stories of resilience.
Institutional Growth & Capacity Building: Accessing the ALF’s resources, training, and mobility programs will allow our team to refine our methodology in social inclusion, ensuring our local projects (like the support for women and children in migration contexts) are aligned with international standards of human rights and intercultural cooperation.
Advocacy for the Mediterranean Identity: We want to contribute to a narrative where Taranto is no longer seen just as an industrial site, but as a proactive cultural capital within the Euro-Med space.