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Michael Howcroft

@michaelhowcroft.bsky.social

38 followers 59 following 10 posts

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow @civicimaginaries.bsky.social University of Glasgow, Urban Studies and Social Policy.

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Michael Howcroft @michaelhowcroft.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Policy and urban co-production are embedded through all levels of governance in Bologna and the Foundation of Urban Innovation is at the centre of this work, leading on (amongst other things) Collaboration Pacts which support how the 3rd sector and municipality work together.

The image on the right is of the interior of Salaborsa. Once a fortress, botanical garden, basketball and boxing arena, trading centre, restaurant, bank, and a puppet theatre, it's now one of the most important public libraries in Bologna, a hub for community activities and an interface of civic action.

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Michael Howcroft @michaelhowcroft.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Meet Giuseppe Dossetti, who ran, unsuccessfully, for Mayor of Bologna in 1956. Though he lost the election (to the legendary communist mayor Giuseppe Dozza), aspects of his manifesto (Il libro bianco per Bologna), were taken up by the administration.

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Michael Howcroft @michaelhowcroft.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

During conversations & walks with my fab hosts at the University of Bologna, I learned about different practices & geographies of civic care. E.g. the ‘Freak of Nature’ of Emilia Romagna: an anonymous artist who paints images of bamboo stalks, and numbers the windows of empty and abandoned shops.

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Michael Howcroft @michaelhowcroft.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Bologna: A thread. ❤️🔱 For our @civicimaginaries.bsky.social project I have had three fantastic weeks in Bologna, learning about the city’s long history of neighbourhood action, the municipality’s approach to participation and commitment to policy co-production. Look out for a blog series soon.

The images here are of the city’s famous porticoes and towers, striking features of Bologna’s civic identity and examples of how the built environment can radically shape place through social interaction.

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Michael Howcroft @michaelhowcroft.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Applications are open for PhD Scholarship ‘Civic imaginaries of Glasgow’. Closing date 31 March 2025. V grateful if folks could share with networks & especially with current Masters students who might be interested. eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

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