The project “Innovation and Training for a Green Transition in the Cultural and Film Sector” (INFO-SCC), funded by the Ministry of Culture with European Union funds – NextGenerationEU, is a multidisciplinary training programme aimed at professionals in the performing arts and cultural sectors. Its objective is to combine the reduction of environmental impact with the social and economic growth of local areas, offering opportunities to share best practice, training sessions and individual feedback and discussion sessions.
The initiative stems from the convergence of the expertise of the Green Team at the Polytechnic University of Turin, which focuses on sustainability issues, and that of the courses in Film and Media Engineering, geared towards innovation in the cultural and digital sectors.
The project involves six organisations from Turin’s film and audiovisual sector:
Film Commission Torino Piemonte, Torino Film Lab, Festival CinemAmbiente, Operatori del Doppiaggio e dello Spettacolo (ODS), Robin Studio.
The strategy adopted is one of capacity building, based on the transfer of experience gained at the university in the cultural sector, through practical and participatory tools: mapping and impact assessment according to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria, focus groups and workshops with stakeholders, and the development of innovative strategies through co-design approaches. The programme aims to equip those working in the cultural sector with practical skills and a systemic understanding of sustainability, tailored to the specific characteristics of their professional context.
The organisations actively participated in the training and capacity-building programme, contributing their own experiences and receiving practical tools to steer their activities towards more sustainable and innovative models. Although they all operate within the performing arts and culture sector, the organisations involved have very different missions and carry out a wide range of activities – from the production of visual effects to vocal training, and from promoting the local area to championing environmental cinema – making the programme particularly rich in complementary perspectives.
The project is divided into four main phases:
- Analysis of the current situation: the first phase focuses on mapping the activities undertaken by the organisation to assess the integration of sustainability (SDGs) into its operations. The survey was carried out through interviews, literature reviews and guided workshop sessions.
- ESG self-assessment tool: the second phase involves the co-creation, testing and adaptation of a tool for self-assessing the impact of organisations’ operations, using an ESG approach. The tool was instrumental in making organisations aware of their level of maturity and knowledge with regard to ESG criteria. During this phase, using participatory research methods, the ESG themes of greatest interest and priority for further exploration were identified.
- ESG training seminars: based on the priority areas identified, three in-depth theoretical and practical seminars were organised - one for each of the three thematic areas (environmental, social and governance) – to develop ESG skills. The seminars aimed to explore in detail the ESG aspects relevant to the organisations’ capacity-building process.
The seminars:
- Governance (G) seminar, 9 February 2026: “Impact analysis: from the invisible to the measurement of ESG strategy”. Presented by Dr Serena Moscardelli.
- Environment (E) seminar, 16 March 2026: “Climate-changing emissions. Inventories and reduction strategies”, led by Prof. Jost von Hardenberg; “Energy and climate: between dependence, transition and neutrality”, led by Prof. Enrico Fabrizio; “Sustainable procurement”, led by Prof. Andrea Tuni.
- Social (S) seminar, 10 April 2026: “Organisational innovation and the training market”, led by Dr Annalisa Magone.
- Sustainability plans: the development and innovation of development plans to improve organisations’ sustainability performance.
The project aims to strengthen entrepreneurial skills relating to eco-innovation in the culture and performing arts sector. Through a multidisciplinary and capacity-building approach, the organisations involved have been supported in integrating ESG knowledge and skills into their activities and in drawing up innovation and sustainability plans to improve their sustainable performance. The initiative provides an opportunity for guided dialogue between organisations in a sector that creates local value and culture, yet is also highly diverse. For this reason, the approach is cross-cutting and the content of each phase is tailored to the specific needs of the participating organisations.