Murals in Rimini, a theme that has also created recent controversy. In the last meeting of the Council, the municipal administration approved the guidelines that regulate the creation of urban mural works in the area.
These artistic expressions that color the facades of cities, also known as ‘writing’, ‘street art’, ‘graffiti’ or ‘murals’, have in fact been formally recognized as contemporary metropolitan art, which allows them to fully unfold but within the limits of the dictates of the new regulations. The latter were designed in particular to promote wall art as a tool for urban regeneration and to combat graphic vandalism, offering designated spaces where artists can freely express their creativity and imagination. An approach, therefore, which aims to recover areas in a state of degradation and, at the same time, to elevate street art to a tool for constructive dialogue between citizens and institutions.
The document approved by the municipal council also details various types of usable ‘walls’, from the ‘gym’ ones intended for practice during bricklaying courses to those renamed as ‘hall of fame’, i.e. areas where the artists included in the the municipal register can create without restrictions. These two types of facades are also flanked by ‘project walls’, i.e. specific spaces intended for projects managed directly by the Municipality.
The works obviously must not contain offensive or discriminatory messages, and any artistic intervention must avoid causing harm to people or property. The artists must also report the beginning and completion of their works to allow adequate monitoring by the Palazzo Garampi offices.
Artists interested in operating in these spaces must be registered in the municipal register of authorized persons by submitting an annual application. This register not only allows you to organize spaces, but also ensures that each work complies with community regulations.
“With the approval of this innovative set of guidelines, our city once again confirms itself as a cutting-edge center for urban artpromoting an inclusive and stimulating environment – is the comment of the councilor for youth policies of the municipality of Rimini, Francesca Mattei -. Rimini, moreover, has an important emotional and historical bond with this type of expressive language, as can be observed by walking around the streets and city villages. In 1994 we were even the venue for one of the most important Italian events linked to the world of graffiti/writing, ‘Indelebile’, as well as, in general, among the first municipalities in Italy to grant artistic spaces to writers. This has allowed us to structure a fruitful collaboration with writers over time, from which interesting projects have flourished such as The Right To Write, created with the precise aim of highlighting mural works. Obviously, all in full respect of public order and urban decorum.”
