Rural areas across Europe are facing profound changes driven by the impacts of climate
change and the disruptive influence of new technologies. These shifts are reshaping ways
of life, from modes of transportation and remote work to the emergence of micro-
enterprises, the agricultural crisis, seasonal tourism that affects local economies, and the
arrival of new residents in rural areas.
In this context, several cultural organizations rooted in these regions seek to collaborate
through residency programs. These residencies aim to bring together artists, researchers,
citizens, and local stakeholders as spaces for creation and experimentation, exploring new
ways of living and deepening our connections with the natural world. By fostering both
local and international cooperation, the project hopes to inspire fresh perspectives, drive
behavioral change, and co-create new collective narratives, ultimately mobilizing
communities to shape the future of their territories.
This project seeks to address key questions, including:
How can we, as residents, artists, professionals, and scientists, take an active role
in analyzing and addressing the challenges our territories face?
In what ways can rural contexts both contribute to and benefit from research and
creative exploration focused on their future?
Can residency programs become laboratories for artistic, scientific, and civic
utopias in rural areas?
Partners already involved :
- Scènes obliques, Espace culturel international de la montagne (Alpes du Nord, France) :
https://www.scenes-obliques.eu
- Centre d’art et de nature de Farrera (Catalogne, Espagne) : https://farreracan.cat
- La Chambre d’eau (Hauts de France, France) : https://www.lachambredeau.fr
Next Steps for the Project:
March 2025: Partner meeting in Avesnois (Northern France).
May 13, 2025: Submission of the application to the Creative Europe Program.
