The pilot project that the Regional Council has selected as part of the interventions financed with the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for the cultural, social and economic regeneration of the villages at risk of abandonment comes from the Municipality of Ulassai.
"Where nature meets art" is the proposal presented, which has as its main theme the artistic work of Maria Lai and sees Ulassai as a territory representing an international model of sustainable community based on the heritage of art, the environment, identity and quality of social relations.
"We have chosen an ambitious project - explains the president of the Region, Christian Solinas - which includes interventions aimed at the redevelopment of public spaces, restoration of the historical-architectural heritage and enhancement of the material and intangible cultural heritage of Ulassai, transformed into an open-air museum thanks to the commitment of Maria Lai, whose most important public collection is preserved ". "I am convinced - adds the governor - that these redevelopment interventions constitute an important opportunity to support the local economy, in terms of boosting employment and a renewed attractiveness with the development of infrastructures and services in the field of culture and tourism for the rebirth of abandoned villages or villages at risk of abandonment ".
"The Ulassai project - underlines Andrea Biancareddu, councilor for culture - aims at integrating cultural, landscape and traditions values with innovation, new technologies and the green economy, respecting the environmental, economic and managerial sustainability of the proposed initiatives , and it is necessary to proceed with the involvement and participation of the community and local associations ".
In total, project proposals from 25 municipalities were received by the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage, which had published a notice for expression of interest.
Among the elements that led to the selection of Ulassai, the significant demographic dynamics, with a decrease of 19.57% of the population in 20 years; the old-age index is equal to 212 (148.7 the national figure) with an incidence of elderly people alone of 43.9 (27.1 the national figure); the incidence of young people outside the labor market and training (NEET) went from 9.8 in 1991 to 13.1 in 2011.
