International conference: Culture Matters Here. Cultivating Creative Place-based Innovation in Non-urban Communities

Description

The IN SITU Final Conference, “Culture Matters Here. Cultivating Creative Place-based Innovation in Non-urban Communities,” will take place in Valmiera, Latvia, from 11-13 May 2026. Organised within the project IN SITU – Place-based Innovation of Cultural and Creative Industries in Non-urban Areas, the conference will be a dynamic forum for exploring cutting-edge research and practices in place-based innovation and creativity of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in non-urban areas.

This conference is co-organised by the Latvian Academy of Culture and the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra in cooperation with the European Network of Cultural Centres, Culture Action Europe and all the IN SITU project partners, and in conjunction with  our local associates, Valmiera County Municipality and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The IN SITU project receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement no. 101061747).

This event will be a catalyst for networking, exchange, and knowledge-building among participants, furthering understanding of the issues and opportunities for rural creative work, and contributing to a more supportive environment for cultural and creative actors in non-urban areas. We invite scholars, researchers, artists, cultural practitioners, activists, policymakers, and decision-makers from across the world and a wide variety of disciplines to submit proposals for presentations of papers and projects. We welcome participation by the large community of the European Rural Pact, including the Community Group on Culture and Creativity in Rural Areas.

All submissions should offer an original contribution to the vital topic of place-based innovation and the transformative power of the creative and cultural sector in forging more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities in rural and non-urban areas. We will also share key insights from our research, highlight project results, and look ahead to future plans. Additionally, the event will host the premiere of the IN SITU documentary, offering an inside look at our Labs and case studies.

Additional information: https://insituculture.eu/culture-matters-here-cultivating-creative-place-based-innovation-in-non-urban-communities/ 

Commitment's information

Stakeholder beneficiary(ies)

Activities

Expected Outcomes

The event will bring together researchers and practitioners from non-urban areas across Europe and abroad to share recent research, leading policy and planning experiences, and innovative place-based cultural initiatives. The conference is soliciting contributions worldwide with a focus on three main themes:

Main results

Number of people

500

Number of projects

3

Final results

The IN SITU international conference will be a benchmark of research and collaboration regarding place-based innovation of cultural and creativity in non-urban areas. It will provide useful and inspiring information and experiences to inform future culture-based work in rural areas, which will have a ripple effect on the effectiveness and the "connectedness" of this work. It will also boost the profile and membership of the Rural Pact's Community Group on Culture and Creativity in Rural Areas, through which future initiatives will be facilitated and promoted.