Short Description

Every city is shaped by the people who live in it – their memories, their passions, their sense of what matters. Propaga is a civic initiative that puts those voices at the centre of cultural life in Frascati, creating a genuine space for residents to share their experiences, contribute their ideas, and help guide decisions about the places and heritage they care about.
At the heart of the project is a digital platform, and it does something that sounds simple but is surprisingly rare: it takes conversation seriously. Instead of asking residents to check boxes on a survey or give opinions in a questionnaire, this project invites you to have real discussions – small groups of people talking about what actually matters to them, in their own words. People gather into small groups of 4–8 to have a conversation. The facilitator records this conversation and uploads the audio to platform, where it is transcribed. Then local partners listen back across many conversations at once, finding the themes, values, and concerns that surface again and again. Think of it less like a poll and more like a careful, attentive ear – one that can hold the stories of an entire community without losing any of them.
Ideas and proposals that come out of this process don’t disappear into a report. They are brought back to the community for reflection and refinement, so that whatever reaches decision-makers has been genuinely shaped by the people it will affect.
Choosing to take part in Propaga is an act of caring for this city. It is also, in a quiet way, an act of civic education: a chance to practice the art of listening to others, finding common ground, and contributing to something larger than any single voice.

The Project

In the era of digital transformation, true value comes not just from gathering data, but from understanding the pulse of a community. Our project embodies the next generation of public engagement, employing an advanced process centered on qualitative analysis to decode the behaviors and experiences that shape people’s choices. By applying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, we move beyond superficial remarks and delve into the personal stories of those who enrich the cultural and artistic fabric of a city as historic and captivating as Frascati.

Central to this innovation is the Meaning Creation and Sensemaking function – a groundbreaking process driven by cutting – edge natural language models. This technology does more than process information; it reveals the motivations that inspire citizens to collaborate and safeguard Italy’s artistic heritage. The system turns dialogue into action: selected proposals are refined and enriched by the community, building a strong, shared consensus before reaching decision-makers.
Adopting this platform provides access to a comprehensive ecosystem of integrated tools for measuring outcomes and assessing the impact of each solution. Our commitment extends beyond technical excellence; choosing this system is an investment in civic education, transforming every debate into an opportunity for collective growth. We promote empathy, active listening, and inclusion – fostering a society that understands and embraces diverse ideas while working toward shared goals.

The future of Cultural Participation: where Intelligence meets Experience

By harnessing the exceptional capabilities, our project is becoming a true infrastructure of trust – amplifying citizens’ voices and turning fragmented dialogue into actionable collective intelligence. Our tool is more than a platform for conversation; it bridges personal experiences with public decision – making, elevating qualitative analysis to new heights of precision and empathy. Through advanced deep listening technologies, we map participants’ real – life experiences, turning every discussion about Italy’s cultural heritage into a rich source of insights and genuine motivations.

Platform’s transformative power lies in its ability to reveal the deep meaning people assign to places and traditions. Leveraging advanced language models for sensemaking, the system explores conversations – not to search for keywords but to surface shared values and underlying concerns. This approach produces proposals that emerge organically from an empathetic understanding of reality. Each idea returns to the community for further refinement and validation, ensuring that final solutions presented to pilot site managers are grounded in broad, informed consensus.
Adopting our tool is a strategic move toward transparent, measurable governance, supported by analytics that accurately assess the social impact of every initiative. Yet the greatest value lies in its cultural impact: the system becomes a training ground for deliberative democracy, where technology brings together diverse perspectives rather than fueling conflict. Through the platform, debate becomes a tool for fostering a culture of communication built on active listening, acceptance, and radical inclusion -turning digital participation into an act of care for the community and local environment.

• Active participation: It marks the shift from spectator to co – creator, as citizens contribute their memories and skills to enrich collective heritage through active civic initiatives and projects.
• Valuable investment: This reflects the commitment of entrepreneurs and communities to support culture not simply as an expense, but as a strategic asset for revitalizing local areas and fostering lasting social well – being.
• Choice and opinion: This is realized through the power of people – via consultations, meetings, and participatory budgeting – to shape cultural policies and transform public spaces into cultural venues that reflect their needs.

MUSA – Museo Tuscolano Scuderie Aldobrandini

At the heart of Frascati, within the monumental Aldobrandini Scuderie designed by Massimiliano Fuksas, stands the MUSA Tuscolan Civic Museum – a place where archaeology meets innovation and memory shapes the future. More than a collection of artifacts, it is a centuries – old narrative that unites the modern city with the illustrious legacy of ancient Tusculum.
The exhibition spans centuries of history, offering visitors a unique chance to admire precious artifacts unearthed from the Latin and Roman city. From majestic marble sculptures to exquisite everyday objects, each piece narrates the ascent of one of ancient Latium’s most influential cities – once a retreat for Roman aristocracy and a cradle of culture. The archaeological section features an exceptional collection of wooden models of the Tuscolan Villas, the ‘crowns of delight’ that continue to define the landscape and identity of this remarkable region.
In addition to its immense historical value, the Tuscolan Civic Museum has become a vibrant hub for cultural and social engagement. With advanced technologies and an inclusive vision, the museum invites the public to be active participants in heritage, not just spectators. Through dialogue and shared exploration of our roots, the museum serves as a training ground for informed citizenship, where art and history foster empathy and mutual understanding.
A visit to the Museo Tuscolano is a fully immersive experience; light streaming through the Scuderie’s expansive windows illuminates the past and connects it to present – day challenges. It is an invitation to discover Frascati’s soul, appreciate the profound relationship between people and the Tuscolan landscape, and take part in shaping a living, shared, and ever – evolving cultural heritage.