Community projects launch in Rome to preserve local identity

Two distinct community-driven initiatives in Rome are focusing on preserving local history and urban narratives through audiovisual storytelling.

In the Montesacro district, the Montesacro Sonoro project, promoted by Ars Mundi APS, aims to document the collective memory and acoustic landscapes of the area. The project covers locations from Città Giardino to the Aniene river, highlighting urban transformations and historical figures such as singer-songwriter Rino Gaetano. The initiative will feature five podcast episodes, a digital sound map, and an urban walk to create a shared archive of local testimonies.

In the San Lorenzo neighborhood, the Dinamo association is hosting a participatory audiovisual workshop led by Andrea Pistorio and Patrizia Montesanti. The workshop focuses on gentrification, social spaces, and urban changes. Participants will use smartphones to create a collective audio and video reportage, including a podcast and video, to offer alternative narratives to the neighborhood's common depictions of nightlife and urban decay.