GENERATIVE PRACTICES AND CULTURAL IMPACT: THE CASE OF ORIENTE OCCIDENTE - A method aimed at understanding who culture is for, who governs it, and with what outcomes

This study explores the dynamics of cultural economy through an in-depth case analysis of the Oriente Occidente Festival, a long-standing cultural event based in the urban setting of Rovereto, in the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy. The research investigates the festival’s capacity to activate individual and collective vitality, addressing three key questions: who culture is for, who controls it, and with what outcomes. Drawing on secondary data and 8 interviews conducted between May 2023 and May 2025 with festival organizers, artists, volunteers, and audience members, alongside other primary sources such as official documentation, public talks, and online content, the study examines participation practices, collaborative networks, and cultural production processes embedded in the festival.