Investire nell’industria culturale creativa: il Lighting Design come strategia di valorizzazione dei beni culturali

Lighting design is considered a branch of Creative Cultural Industry, which sees culture as a true eco- nomic infrastructure. The case studies presented are linked by the fact that these initiatives start from proposals that intertwine urban features with environmental features and with monumental aspects; artistic events are based on permanent interventions that intend to replace existing urban lighting with better performing, low-consumption technologies. The paper collects and reflects on some recent experiences – national and international, such as Lyon, Chicago, Florence, and Bergamo – sketching out an overview where the conservative demands of the discipline are connected to a framework where methods of financing, benefits, strengths and risks of the application of this technology to cultural heritage emerge, taking into account the specificity of the different cultural contexts. Furthermore, the paper investigates how lighting design in all its forms fosters the enhancement of historic cities through an interpretation that is capable of revealing new meanings.