Civic spaces are the beating heart of participatory democracy—physical and digital environments where citizens and organizations can engage, co-design solutions, and strengthen active participation.
In an era marked by polarization and threats to fundamental rights, protecting these spaces is more urgent than ever. This need has led to the launch of the European project B.Right Spaces, funded by the CERV program of the European Commission, which aims to support and enhance the capacity of local institutions to safeguard civic spaces.
On Wednesday, April 2, the workshop “B.Right Spaces: Civic Spaces as Hubs for Participation and Inclusion” took place at Beeozanam in Turin, organized by Torino Social Impact, the City of Turin, and Labsus, in collaboration with Biennale Democrazia.
A Workshop for Democratic Participation
The event brought together around 20 local organizations and active citizens, marking the beginning of a journey towards the creation of a Community of Practice dedicated to Spaces of Democracy. Following opening remarks by Valeria Vacchiano (City of Turin), Lorena Di Maria (Torino Social Impact), and Emanuela Saporito (Labsus), participants engaged in a collaborative workshop inspired by the World Café method.
Key discussion questions included:
- What institutional, legal, socio-economic, and cultural factors facilitate participation in civic spaces?
- What obstacles and threats hinder access to and the effectiveness of these spaces?
From Roundtables to a Shared Strategy
The discussions helped identify strengths, opportunities, and critical challenges to making civic spaces more inclusive and effective. Key themes included:
- The role of civic spaces as hubs for social innovation and active participation
- The connection between democracy and freedom of expression
- The challenges of youth engagement, with a dedicated table for organizations working with and for young people
The April 2nd meeting is just the beginning: in the coming weeks a comparative study on civic practices in Turin will be developed, linking them to the local legal and socio-cultural framework. The goal is to provide concrete tools to strengthen democratic participation and the role of civic spaces in the long run.
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