Group
Culture and creativity in rural areas
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75 Members
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3 Discussions
Description
Creative and culture-based work in rural areas has been widely examined and articulated through three narratives, namely cultural vitality, the ‘rural creative class’ and creative entrepreneurship. It is time to align these discussions into a comprehensive approach for supporting cultural and creative work in rural areas.
Researchers, authorities, and practitioners emphasise the need for policies tailored to the unique challenges of rural creative and cultural practitioners—such as limited access, critical mass, underdeveloped infrastructure, and financial constraints. At the same time, there is growing recognition that innovative responses to social and environmental challenges often emerge from non-urban areas, driven by community participation, well-being, and new ways of working. In several European countries, cultural actors have proposed fresh ideas for organising community life and inspiring new practices.
Building on insights from the IN SITU project, three priorities are emerging:
- Expanding critical knowledge about non-urban futures, integrating culture as a key dimension beyond recreation or tourism.
- Advancing culture and heritage as public resources for local sustainability.
- Shaping policies and programs that support cultural work through participative and informed frameworks.
Additionally, three “next steps” for regional cultural governance are highlighted:
- Cultural mapping to build a consistent regional knowledge base.
- Guidance on cultural planning and integration into regional strategies.
- Identifying business opportunities and funding for rural cultural work..
Objectives of the community group
- Establish a European Community that serves as a space for the exchange of knowledge, practices and initiatives on the topic of culture and creativity as catalysts for change in rural areas.
- Increase networking opportunities and capacity of rural municipalities, organisations, and practitioners.
- Collect, discuss, and advocate for opportunities and needs of cultural and creative organisations and professionals in rural areas.
- Share and analyse key national and local policies that consider culture and creativity as an essential contributor to place-based issues in rural areas, and formulate recommendations for a supportive policy framework.
- Trigger and facilitate the development of joint projects, events, initiatives and research among community members.
Group coordinators
- Nancy Duxbury Carreiro (Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra)
- Martina Fraioli (European Network of Cultural Centres)
- Piotr Michalowski (European Network of Cultural Centres)