The First Complete Census of Public Artworks in Torino
Abstract
Since the end of the 20th century, public art has registered a new tendency towards growing institutionalisation. The self-managed spontaneity of murals is increasingly conveyed in projects conceived or supported by public or private institutions. Public art has played an important role in the policies aimed at reviving cities. Since this was implemented in Torino in the last quarter of the century, public art has grown remarkably in the city, especially in the outskirts. The project Arte per strada Torino (https://www.arteperstradatorino.it) aimed to create a portal containing the first complete census of artworks in public spaces in Torino (Italy) and its belt. This census was carried out through an analysis of existing repertoires of public art works in the city, integrated by interviews with qualified witnesses and detailed field surveys. The project also collects publications, documents and other websites related to the field of public art. The data for the census were collected from existing repertoires of public artworks in Torino, through systematic site inspections, as well as from the Municipality of Torino and local art associations. The period considered is from 1990 to the present, that is to say, the age in which Torino experienced a great flourishing of public art. The Arte per strada Torino website offers three different ways to access the artworks collected: a textual list, a photo gallery and an interactive map. This project offers a solid basis for analysing public art in Torino and its outlying area, which will be useful for policymakers, artistic associations, researchers and interested citizens.