Museo Civico di Castelbuono | Winner of the 2026 Cash Prize

The Museo Civico di Castelbuono is the winner of one of the three 2026 cash prizes.

The museum qualified for the award through the “accessible museum” project, a concept that aligns with the idea of the museum becoming a catalyst for change, reestablishing a non-hierarchical approach to cultural production, applying the principles of consultation and public engagement, and ensuring that various initiatives are able to reach and involve the museum’s diverse audiences.

The project stems from the need to strengthen the role of the Castelbuono Civic Museum as an open, participatory space capable of fostering connections between cultural heritage and the community. In line with the institution’s strategic priorities, the initiative aims to develop innovative tools for cultural mediation and storytelling that can broaden access and encourage active forms of cultural participation. Within this vision of the museum as a “device for connecting with people” lies the concept of the Abbecedario Civico, a permanent multimedia platform—both online and onsite—conceived as an open, ongoing work. The project stems from an educational program promoted by the Museum’s Education Department, which involved students from the Liceo Scientifico di Castelbuono, experimenting with a new mode of storytelling: entrusting the community itself with the museum’s narrative. The Abbecedario Civico is designed as an accessible, widespread, and inclusive platform, whose content can be progressively and infinitely expanded through a collaborative agreement between the museum and the community.

Each element of the Abbecedario represents a thematic core capable of incorporating diverse materials, taking the form of a constantly evolving narrative micro-world. The project prioritizes the use of video and photographic materials already present in the Museum’s archives, placing them in dialogue with newly created content in a dynamic process of updating and rewriting. The Civic Abbecedario was developed through the TAP – Tutoring program, as part of Dicolab. Cultura al digitale, which is promoted by the Ministry of Culture – Digital Library under the PNRR Cultura 4.0 initiative, implemented by the National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities, and funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU. The support provided by the TAP program had a significant impact on the project, allowing the Museum team to experiment with new approaches, strengthen internal skills, and build a more solid foundation for digital design. Continuous dialogue helped clarify processes, workflows, and objectives, making the project more informed and sustainable over time.