Contemporary artist residencies: the case of Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte's UNIDEE Residency Programs for social transformation

This thesis is the final result of the curricular internship at Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte Onlus, specifically in the office of UNIDEE Residency Programs, the art residency programme founded by Michelangelo Pistoletto in 1999 for social transformation. This work was made possible through research in Cittadellarte's digital archives and bibliographic study, together with the experience at the Foundation from November 2023 to the present. The first step in the analysis of UNIDEE Residency Programs was to research and describe the complex phenomenon of artistic residencies, from their inception to contemporary developments. In order to recognise its value in the international art scene, socially engaged art was studied and evaluated from both artistic and social perspectives. Within this framework is embedded the description of Cittadellarte, from Michelangelo Pistoletto's visionary idea to today's evolution. The multidisciplinary approach characterises the thesis, which not only included research under the artistic lens, but also from socio-economic perspective of the Biella area, analysing the impact of the residencies in terms of sustainable territorial promotion and social welfare. The contribution of the interviews and recollections of all those who have experienced UNIDEE Residency Programs over the years, was fundamental to understand the impact of this instrument on artistic and professional practice. The work carried out made it possible to assess how UNIDEE residencies are a tool for artist development and one of the most innovative systems of connection and collaboration between communities, organisations, institutions and companies in Biella. This dissertation aims to be an asset for the community to witness a successful example of territorial development.