The IN SITU project has just released Episode 7 of its new podcast series IN SITU Dialogues: Place-based creativity from the ground up

In this episode, Þorgrímur Einar Guðbjartsson (⁠The Icelandic Yule Lads, Iceland⁠) and Maija Esko (⁠Footprint of a Giant, Finland⁠) explore how art and culture can revitalise places by reawakening their symbolic and historical identities. Rooted in the landscapes and imaginaries of their regions, their projects transform local heritage into living, shared experiences.

Through monuments inspired by Icelandic folklore and poetic interventions along the Finnish lakeshore, their work reveals how creativity can reshape the way communities connect to their environment. They show that revitalising territories is not only about preserving the past, but about reinterpreting it, creating meaningful connections that invite communities to see, feel, and inhabit their surroundings in new ways.

This conversation is part of an 8-episode series (Oct 2025–Spring 2026), featuring voices from 12 case studies across six non-urban regions in Europe: artists, cultural entrepreneurs, and community organisers shaping new pathways for culture-based development.

Listen to Episode 7 now HERE