Milan offers ten public spaces for neighborhood bookstores

Milan offers ten public spaces for neighborhood bookstores

The Municipality of Milan has approved criteria for a call to assign ten ground-floor public premises intended for new neighborhood bookstores or to strengthen existing local bookshops. The measure is part of the "Sefémm" program to enhance public spaces and aims to promote reading as a cultural hub within neighborhoods.

• Available premises: spaces from 30 to 190 m² across centre and suburbs (via Scaldasole, via Palmanova, piazzale Dateo, viale Lombardia, corso XXII Marzo, via Sant'Abbondio, via Rimini, via Nikolajevka, via Satta, via Borsieri).
• Allocation criteria: priority to micro-enterprises and projects offering cultural and social activities for the neighborhood; 70% of the score is based on the cultural and community proposal, 30% on the economic offer.
• Aim: to create "living places", not just retail outlets, fostering collaborations with schools, associations and local cultural networks.

The administration says the initiative seeks to support a fragile sector, counter urban hollowing-out and encourage widespread accessible culture. To apply or view the full call and detailed requirements, consult the official Municipality of Milan website in the public spaces and calls section.