From grassroots cultural movements to institutionalized urban regeneration projects: The cases of La Friche la Belle de Mai (Marseille) and Piccolo America (Rome) ☆ Vittoria Di Grazia a , Luca Tricarico b,* , Anna Pirri Valentini a a IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Piazza S.Francesco, 19, 55100, Italy b CNR National Research Council of Italy, Institute on Susainable Economic Growth, Via dei Taurini, 19, 00185 Roma, Italy A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Grassroots cultural movements Urban regeneration Community-led urban regeneration Institutionalization Spatial governance ABSTRACT This article delves into the institutionalization trajectories of grassroots cultural movements in Rome and Mar- seille, Italy, and France respectively. It explores the development of these practices from the ground up, high- lighting how these cultural initiatives aimed at creating inclusive cultural spaces with low barriers to access a number of cultural and creative activities. Through multiple case studies approach to research incorporating semi-structured interviews, field research, and policy analysis, we investigate the process of engagement and collaboration between grassroots movements and local institutions. The study underscores the transformative role of these initiatives as drivers of social and cultural innovation, showcasing examples of how collaboration between these actors and institutional stakeholders can foster the co-creation of urban environments, while addressing concerns related to social cohesion, amidst process of touristification. Additionally, the analysis delves into the role of enabling policies and regulations that have facilitated the processes of these grassroots initiatives, shedding light on the broader socio-political context in which they operate. By examining the interplay between grassroots cultural movements and policy frameworks, we uncover insights into the replicable mechanisms driving the institutionalization of these cultural practices uncovering their potential to inform future urban development strategies. 1. Introduction Given their strong ties to changes stemming from international economic and social upheavals, cities have, since the mid-20th century, often diverged from their territories’ essential needs. The rise of tourism, characterized by low value-added activities and extractive practices, exacerbates this divergence. It transforms cultural heritage into a problematic asset requiring careful management to avoid adverse im- pacts unless approached within an integrated, sustainable, and circular development framework (Gravagnuolo, Micheletti, & Bosone, 2021; Sacco, Ferilli, & Tavano Blessi, 2018). Concurrently, cities are increas- ingly emancipated from the State’s centralized authority, assuming more responsibility for urban welfare provision (Keating, 2021). They are asked to reimagine spatial configurations to cultivate global competitiveness, serving as mechanisms for economic regeneration. The dual function of culture in urban revitalization, as both an economic engine and a force for social cohesion, intersects and collides in contemporary urban contexts. At the onset of the 21st century, symbolic production became pivotal, often described as ‘cultural capitalism’ or ‘cognitive capitalism’ (Scott, 2014). Art, culture, and creativity were seen as crucial for development processes, with governments and in- ternational bodies like the European Commission, UNESCO, and OECD increasingly stressing their role in local and regional development. In northern global cities, the decline of manufacturing prompted a turn towards culture and creativity as key strategies for fostering urban economic and social growth (d’Ovidio & Morat´ o, 2017). Concurrently, as major cultural cities increasingly rely on tourism, several detrimental effects have emerged. This over-reliance, particularly in cities with abundant cultural heritage, poses sustainability challenges. Mass tourism often degrades cultural sites, strains infrastructure, and leads to unsustainable resource exploitation (Dodds & Butler, 2019; Russo & Scarnato, 2018; ˙ Zemla, 2024). This issue is further compounded by the ☆ This article is part of a special issue entitled: Innovative entrepreneurial practices published in Cities. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: ltricarico@luiss.it (L. Tricarico). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Cities journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cities https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.105783 Received 30 June 2024; Received in revised form 23 January 2025; Accepted 3 February 2025