Fandango Factory opens in Lecce: cultural startup hub and Fandango Live

Fandango Factory: a distributed cultural hub in Lecce

Fandango Factory enters its operational phase in Lecce with the aim of turning historic spaces and creative skills into job opportunities. The project, funded with €492,234 under the Ecosistemi Culturali al Sud programme, is led by Agenzia Formativa Ulisse Impresa Sociale ETS and focuses on incubation, coworking and certified training paths for NEET youth.

The first public opening will be Fandango Live, taking place in Lecce from 11 to 14 June 2026, four days of talks, books, cinema, podcasts and live performances that will serve as a pilot for the hub.

• Involved sites: former Sant'Anna Conservatory (coworking and incubation), Agostiniani area (workshops and labs), Teatro Apollo (public programming), plus former Convento dei Teatini, ex Convitto Palmieri, Castello Carlo V and Masseria Tagliatelle.
• Goals: support cultural startups, provide certified vocational training for NEETs and create a pipeline linking cultural production to the market.
• Partners: Municipality of Lecce, Apulia Region, Fandango, A Sud, Dedalos, Legacoop Puglia, Puglia Creativa production district.
• Confirmed participants for Fandango Live: Alessandro Baricco, Riccardo Luna, Adriano Panatta, Francesca Mannocchi, Kasia Smutniak, Valeria Solarino.

The project's impact will depend on its ability to sustain a continuous circuit between training, prototyping and public presentation, with measurable indicators of sustainability and social accessibility.