Badia Lost & Found

The Urban Art District Badia Lost & Found of Lentini is a project of urban regeneration that has transformed the streets of the historical neighborhood Badia in an open art gallery and civic laboratory, with more than 40 artworks designed by local and international artists. It’s the first street art district in the province of Siracusa, in Sicily. Social innovation and urban regeneration through Contemporary Arts changed the social fabric of the territory and activated processes of cooperation and widespread hospitality. The artworks are not just “decorations” but are deeply connected to the territory and tell stories about Lentini and its surroundings, its myths, legends and its historical figures. They gave new value to the neighborhood and became one of the principal attractions of the city, as well as being welcomed by the citizens. Walks, activities, cultural exchanges helped regain a sense of belonging among the citizens. Moreover, public art interventions are positively impacting on the local housing market and on tourism, launching new opportunities for the economic fabric of the territory.
The organization aims to stimulate the local community to write the pages of its own future through a shared project. A dream, a vision, but also a concrete goal that they want to reach together. They firmly believe that being responsible for their territory means to return memory and dignity to it.
Badia Lost & Found is a project that uses art practices to regenerate the urban and social fabric. They intend art as a “new light” that makes people see what was in the shadow and project it to the contemporary environment: they not only study and archive the heritage, they update it, to reflect on the past cultural production engaging with today’s artists, by involving art galleries, foundations, archivists and scholars on different fields.
We have been working in contemporary art production by supporting new generations of artists, who are the necessary engine to the renewal of society. We curate artists residencies aimed at experimentation through the discovery and valorisation of cultural, artistic, historical, tangible and intangible heritage.