11 March 2025
Open Call for participation in IN SITU symposium in Iceland
How can cultural and creative industries (CCIs) unlock the potential of rural regions? Join us in Reykjavík, Iceland, on Friday, 30 May 2025, for the Unlocking the Power of Rural CCIs symposium!
This international event, hosted by the Creative Industries Research Centre in Iceland, in collaboration with the Horizon Europe-funded IN SITU Research Project and The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, will bring together policymakers, thought leaders, and creatives to explore how culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship drive innovation, sustainability, and regeneration beyond urban centres.
Abstracts are welcome for the following sessions:
The Geography of Creativity – How place shapes cultural and creative innovation
Entrepreneurship in the Rural Creative Economy – Turning ideas into impact
Social Enterprises in Action – Building resilient creative ecosystems
Policy and Gender – Shaping inclusive futures in CCIs
Regenerative Heritage Futures – Rethinking preservation, innovation, and tourism
Deadline for abstracts: Monday, 24 March 2025 (midnight GMT)
Submit in English.
Learn more & submit your proposal: HERE
Let’s shape the future of non-urban cultural and creative industries together!
29 January 2025
Exploring the Potential for Growth and Innovation of CCIs in European Non-Urban Areas
The IN SITU project is pleased to announce the release of its latest report, which assesses the potential for growth and innovation within specific subsectors of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in six non-urban areas across Europe. Through a comprehensive regional analysis, the report identifies key drivers behind CCI growth, highlighting sectors with the highest transformative potential for both local economies and societal well-being.
The analysis was led by IN SITU partner Mondragon Innovation & Knowledge (MIK), Mondragon University (Spain) and entailed a set of collaborative tasks aimed at identifying factors driving innovation and transformation in the CCIs across rural Europe.
The specific goals of the report are:
- To identify innovation drivers in CCI subsector growth.
- To assess financial sustainability and participative practices.
- To develop a Growth–Development Matrix.
Strategic Priorities for Innovation and Sustainability
The report outlines several cross-regional priorities to enhance the innovation potential of CCIs in non-urban areas across Europe:
- Investment in Infrastructure and R&D: Many regions require increased infrastructure and R&D investment to bridge the gap with more developed areas and foster dynamic innovation ecosystems.
- Strengthening Financial Mechanisms: Financial sustainability is a common challenge for CCIs, and stronger funding frameworks—such as grants and investment funds—are essential for long-term resilience.
- Encouraging Intersectoral Collaboration: Promoting collaboration between different sectors can catalyse innovation, create synergies, and foster a more dynamic creative ecosystem.
- Addressing Skills and Knowledge Gaps: Targeted educational and training programs can bridge skills gaps, enhancing the workforce’s capacity for innovation and growth.
- Leveraging Regional Cultural Assets: Each region possesses unique cultural resources that can be used to differentiate its CCI subsectors, stimulate niche markets, and boost local economic development.
- Promoting Talent Retention and Engagement: Retaining local talent, particularly among young people, is critical for sustaining innovation. Creating opportunities for youth engagement in CCIs will ensure long-term viability and growth.
This analysis demonstrates that while CCIs in non-urban regions face particular challenges, they also hold considerable potential to drive innovation and contribute to local socioeconomic growth. The Growth–Development Matrix offers a practical framework for identifying high-potential subsectors and supporting tailored policy recommendations and strategic interventions. Finally, this report provides actionable insights for fostering resilient, innovative, and community-oriented CCIs in Europe’s peripheral regions.
Read the full report here: https://insituculture.eu/exploring-innovation-sustainability-and-community-engagement-in-rural-europe/
10 January 2025
This edition features:
- What will happen soon…
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- IN SITU research stream at “The International Cooperative Alliance Committee on Cooperative Research Conference 2025”
- IN SITU Working Group at the “30th European Society for Rural Sociology Congress”
- IN SITU Roadmap for competitiveness
- What has happened recently…
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- Meetings and other events
- Training and capacity-building workshops
- Public reports delivered to the European Commission
- IN SITU Labs in focus: West Region, Iceland
- IN SITU observer
- What else have we been doing…
- Now we are connected with…
See the full newsletter here.
The newsletter is also available through our usual channels:
Innovative Solutions for Rural Futures: Success of the IN SITU ‘Place-based Creative Solutions’ Summer School and ‘Horizons of Sustainability’ Conference Sparks Global Dialogue on Non-Urban Transformation
Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia – The picturesque island of Zlarin and the historic town of Šibenik were the sites of two impactful events this fall, both organised under the banner of the project IN SITU: Place-based innovation of cultural and creative industries in non-urban areas, a major EU-funded initiative aimed at fostering innovation in non-urban areas through the power of cultural and creative industries.
These events—the “Place-based Creative Solutions” Summer School (September 20-24) and the “Horizons of Sustainability” conference (September 25-27)—highlighted the importance of creative innovation in driving rural sustainability and equitable development. These landmark events were organised by the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra and the Kultura Nova Foundation in cooperation with the IN SITU Consortium. The events were supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement no. 101061747), with the conference also receiving funding from the Central European Initiative. Read more in the Press Release HERE
IN SITU international conference in Croatia opened up new horizons
The 1st International Conference “Horizons of Sustainability: The Power of Creative Innovation for Transformation of Rural and Non-Urban Futures” was held in Šibenik, Croatia, on September 25-27. This event was led by the IN SITU partners Kultura Nova Foundation in cooperation with the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra.
The conference gathered scholars, researchers, artists, cultural practitioners, activists, policymakers, and decision-makers from across the world. We explored the transformative power of innovative approaches of cultural and creative agents in forging more equitable and sustainable communities beyond urban centres. The discussions around topics such as creative innovation, the transformation of rural and non-urban futures, and sustainability in diverse contexts were invaluable. Prof. Dr Lidia Varbanova from NATFIZ led an interactive session titled “Rural is the New Creative Centre“, with a panel discussion on presenting the 12 case studies – innovative projects from Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal and Croatia. Yana Dzharova from NATFIZ moderated a session titled “Participatory Approaches in Cultural Revitalization and Rural Development” in which the themes for “Motivation, participation, and sustainability” were presented. The session also included a comparative study of rural art projects in China, “Little steps fostering village progression” and a presentation by Mark Justin Rainey, Ireland.
We believe that the collaborative spirit fostered during the event has sparked new ideas and connections that will drive meaningful change in these critical areas. The conference was followed by a 2-day meeting of the 13 IN SITU consortium partners who worked in an interactive style, discussing the project work for the past months and outlining the tasks for the next project period. The final IN SITU International Conference will take place in Latvia in 2026. Stay tuned and follow us on IN SITU website and social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube.
The IN SITU capacity-building programme keeps making an important path towards the empowerment of cultural and creative agents in non-urban areas
One of the key dimensions of the IN SITU project is the capacity building and skill development programme, designed to foster entrepreneurial social and business models and innovation in each of the six LAB regions (Azores archipelago, Portugal; Western coastal region, Ireland; Western region, Iceland; Rauma and Eurajoki municipalities, Finland; Valmiera County, Latvia; Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia) and to correspond to the needs of cultural and creative agents in these areas.
Unlocking Creative Potential: Highlights from the IN SITU Collaborative Interactive Workshops in the Azores
The IN SITU team from the University of the Azores (UAc), in partnership with the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Kr. Sarafov”(NATFIZ), hosted the transformative event “Collaborate & Innovate: Boosting Creative Potential in the Azores” focused on creativity and collaboration in non-urban areas.
Five training workshops and an Open Conference were held in Ponta Delgada, Azores, and online on 3-4 July 2024, and brought together a diverse group of local and international artists, arts managers, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, students, and cultural policymakers, fostering a collaborative and open atmosphere that helped participants acquire a variety of strategies and methods for managing creative organizations and projects in rural areas.
The event kicked off with the workshop “Storytelling & Creativity,” led by Leonor Sampaio da Silva, who explored storytelling as a powerful tool for promoting creativity. Following this, Sean Burns, from the Centre of Creative Technologies at the University of Galway, presented “The Future of Interactive Storytelling,” highlighting innovations in interactive media. The afternoon featured Lidia Varbanova, who conducted two workshops on social entrepreneurship and funding strategies. The final workshop was led by Bernardo Ferreira, focusing on “Digital Marketing,” emphasizing the importance of a strong online presence.
The event ended with a conference, during which participants had the opportunity to learn more about the IN SITU project and its journey. It was also a chance for the Azorean case studies, Transmalhar and Work in Progress, to showcase their projects.
Participants particularly appreciated the expertise and insights of the guest speakers and moderators, the design of the program’s content, the topics discussed, as well as the welcoming environment and the networking opportunities. Overall, the event was a resounding success, advancing a sense of community and equipping participants with new skills to drive innovation in their local contexts.
The next (and last…) IN SITU capacity building action will be held in Croatia and online at the very end of September 2024!
Stay tuned and join us then!
The IN SITU capacity-building programme keeps making an important path towards the empowerment of cultural and creative agents in non-urban areas
One of the key dimensions of the IN SITU project is the capacity building and skill development programme, designed to foster entrepreneurial social and business models, and innovation in each of the six LAB regions (Azores archipelago, Portugal; Western coastal region, Ireland; Western region, Iceland; Rauma and Eurajoki municipalities, Finland; Valmiera County, Latvia; Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia) and to correspond to the needs of cultural and creative agents in these areas.
IN SITU seminar in Valmiera proved the power of networking for catalysing the creative potential in non-urban areas
Six training sessions were held in Valmiera, Latvia, and online on 24-25 April 2024, in a partnership between the Latvian Academy of Culture and the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Kr. Sarafov”, Bulgaria. The topics of the seminar “Collaborate & Innovate: Boosting Creative Potential in Non-urban Regions!” ranged from mastering storytelling, audience engagement, funding applications to tips and methods for strategic cooperation and network development locally and internationally.
The programme included the organisation of a brunch with local arts managers, artists, policy-makers, and experts, which was a perfect opportunity for networking, knowledge sharing, exchange of ideas and presentation of the innovative IN SITU local case studies: “The garden as functional decorative resource in the formation of the LAUX community” and “Valmiera county manor network”.
The seminar was held online and offline, in a collaborative and open environment, assisting participants to gain various tips and techniques for managing creative organisations and projects in non-urban areas. The competence and knowledge of the invited speakers/moderators, the program’s content design and discussed topics, and the great atmosphere and the networking opportunity, were valued the most by the participants.
Revisiting the IN SITU skills-building workshop held in Borgarnes, West-Iceland, on May 30th and 31st
The two-day dynamic workshop “Unlock Your Brand Potential: Empowering Creatives and Entrepreneurs” was hosted by the Bifröst University in Borgarnes and organised in collaboration with the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Kr. Sarafov”.
The programme commenced with an energetic networking breakfast, after which the participants engaged in a series of five extensive training sessions. These sessions were designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge to enhance their grant writing abilities, master digital marketing techniques, hone their storytelling prowess, understand the significance of intellectual property rights and trademarks, and gain insights into the diverse funding options available within their sector.
The workshop cultivated a collaborative environment where participants were motivated to actively engage, and share their experiences, challenges and ideas. This facilitated open dialogue, knowledge exchange and collective problem-solving. Networking continued informally over meals, and an online community was established to help participants leverage the new knowledge and resources.
Overall, the training was impactful and very well-received, engaging both on-site and online participants. Attendees highly appreciated learning from experts and peers, as well as gaining practical skills and tools to apply in their work.
We will be back soon to tell you about the most recent IN SITU interactive workshops.
Extended deadline for participation in the IN SITU conference in Croatia
Great news! Extra time for IN SITU Proposals!
Due to popular demand, the deadline to submit proposals for the IN SITU Conference: “Horizons of Sustainability: The Power of Creative Innovation for Transformation of Rural and Non-Urban Futures” has been extended!
New deadline: 15 July 24
Submit your proposals today HERE
More about the conference dates and materials see HERE
Call for Applications OPEN NOW for IN SITU Summer School
The IN SITU Summer School “Place-based creative solutions for cultivating caring and sustainable communities” will take place on the beautiful island of Zlarin (Croatia) on September 20-24, 2024. The deadline for applications is Monday, 24 June 2024.
Aiming to create two-way relations with the context in which it takes place – the island of Zlarin – the Summer School programme is designed to address issues that we consider crucial for their sustainability: community building and engagement, tourism and its adjustments to the needs of the local communities and, finally, care as an organising principle intertwining all the elements necessary for the growth and well-being of the community.
We invite students, scholars, cultural and creative practitioners, cultural professionals and activists who work with and within smaller communities, in rural and non-urban areas worldwide, to join us!
The Summer School is organised by IN SITU partners Kultura Nova Foundation in cooperation with the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra and the IN SITU Consortium.The working language of the Summer School will be English.
More information and application form, you can find HERE
If you have any questions, please email in-situ-school@ces.uc.pt
About Zlarin
- A beautiful, small island on the Adriatic Coast close to Šibenik that distinguishes itself for its pristine nature as well as its rich historical and cultural heritage.
- Zlarin bears the title of “Island of corals” because of its history and tradition of extracting, processing, and trading corals.
- It is the first plastic-free island in Croatia due to the association Tatavaka and local inhabitants, with activities oriented towards sustainability of the island and the well-being of the community.
Cultural policies for CCIs in non-urban areas: IN SITU reports on the current situation in Europe
Based on a mixed-methods design of desktop research, document analysis, interviews, focus groups, and site visits, the report State of Cultural Policies for CCIs in Non-urban Areas, developed within the IN SITU project, presents and discusses findings from an analysis of the diverse field of policy concepts, contexts, organisations and (decision-making) structures relating to culture in the EU. The report was developed by the IN SITU research team of the University of Hildesheim (SUH).
Beyond the review of EU cultural policy, the national and territorial levels were analysed, focusing on the six IN SITU Lab regions: Azores, Portugal; Western coastal region, Ireland; Western region, Iceland; Rauma and Eurajoki municipalities, Finland; Valmiera County, Latvia; Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia. For each of the locations, the review involves the national level of cultural policy related to CCIs and the cultural and creative ecosystems of non-urban areas as well as territorial aspects and specificities of the regional and local levels, wherever it was relevant. In addition, the report examines the strategies and planning, means of implementation and programmes in multi-level policy frameworks.
In this review, although the focus was on governmental structures and arrangements, cultural policy is seen not only as a task of governmental entities, but inclusive also of networks and other activities of cultural and creative actors actively working though social innovations to contribute to social cohesion and shape regional transformation.
Organised in two parts, the report first provides, and reflects on, a comprehensive overview of existing cultural policy structures at the European level. This initial analysis aims to present the complexity of the levels and programmes and to clarify the various reference systems. This section also highlights how decisions are implemented in the various programmes. The research finds that cultural policy on the EU level is, until today, generally based on a more urban-centred and economic view on CCIs, culture and creativity. There are very few hints that the stakeholders, structures, potentials, challenges and needs of CCIs embedded in cultural and creative ecosystems in non-urban areas are on the political agenda – and if they are, the focus is mainly on cultural heritage and the potential of non-urban or rural development through cultural tourism. These observations complement the research findings presented in the previous IN SITU report, State of Policies and S3s on Innovation and CCIs in Non-urban Areas.
Secondly, the report presents the findings from examining the cultural policy structures and approaches found in the six IN SITU Lab regions. Beyond a striking variety of cultural policy concepts, structures, strategies, programmes and different administrational, political, socio-economic and place-based backgrounds, several similarities were identified:
- The role and significance of non-urban CCIs related to innovation is mainly unseen;
- Culture and creativity in non-urban areas are widely reduced to the function of “serving” for education, heritage and identity-building;
- A strongly urban-oriented view of those who decide and develop priorities, strategies and programmes;
- A lack of specific strategies and programmes taking into account the various and different needs and potentials of CCIs in diverse non-urban, rural and remote areas;
- A need for data, research and discourse on this fluid and overlapping policy field with unclear edges;
- Much relevant information, data and knowledge of local and regional actors and place-based issues remain invisible to research, international discourses and at the EU level. This is due, in particular, to oral communication patterns, languages not spoken internationally, remoteness from urban discourses, and place-based issues that are sometimes linked to place-based narratives and dynamics; and
- Desktop research and quantitative methods are limited because of a lack of data and accessible reports on these non-urban areas. Qualitative and ethnographic or community-engaged research methods are still rarely used in a cultural policy research context.
“Cultural Policy? Oh no, we don’t have any cultural policy here!” – this was the typical answer to the researchers’ question on local and regional cultural policy in the IN SITU Lab areas, which pointed to a wide-spread phenomena in Europe’s non-urban territories. Even if a more detailed look on place-based cultural policy revealed some contradictions to this polemic expression, it can be generally stated that, as a result of this investigation into non-urban territories of several EU member states, national cultural policy lacks a focus on non-urban issues.
On the other hand, it also became clear from the IN SITU Labs in the Azores (Portugal), Western coastal periphery region (Ireland) and West region (Iceland), for example, that as soon as the topic was discussed, regional cultural policy networks and modes of action crystallised and were often only ‘recognised’ in joint discussions and workshops. Overall, a very diverse picture of different actors and responsibilities that characterise the respective regional cultural policies have emerged.
Another general finding resulted from a close examination of local policies. Place-based needs and the local potentials of CCI stakeholders stay relatively often unseen. They lack adequate enabling structures that foster their innovation capacity and involvement in the shaping of local and regional transformation processes to enhance social cohesion and contribute to the sustainability, vitality and resilience of local and regional communities. Political and administrative entities and granting systems, if existing, rarely consider CCI stakeholders as partners in alliances for common goals but more often see them as funding recipients or providers of cultural services in the areas of tourism, heritage protection, education and image-building.
Nevertheless, it is remarkable that bottom-up activities for social innovation are often tested and organised by CCI actors and their informal networks. This type of active and civil policymaking for local societies reveals good practices of how to manage ongoing transformation processes. Those activities are also valuable contributions to regional development. Whenever they are supported by flexible measures that meet the individual needs of local and regional CCIs, these movements and actions of citizenship seem to promote vitality and resilience.
The information, questions and results gathered, and the structures and frameworks presented in this report, both at the European and IN SITU Lab levels, will inform further cultural policy analysis and discussion to develop cultural policy recommendations for non-urban areas in Europe. These will be discussed with multi-level stakeholders in the course of the IN SITU project and published in the outcome report, Handbook on policy, strategies and planning for CCIs in non-urban areas, in June 2026.
Download Report (D5.2)
IN SITU report analyses CCIs within European innovation policies for non-urban areas
Most technological innovations are produced in an urban setting, but rural or non-urban areas are very often fertile ground for other types of innovation, such as organizational, social or institutional ones. The report, State of Policies and S3s on Innovation and CCIs in Non-urban Areas, produced within the IN SITU project, examined the extent to which cultural and creative work has been supported through the main policies in the EU innovation framework for non-urban areas: the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Cohesion Policies, and Smart Specialization Strategies (S3).
This report was developed by the IN SITU research team of the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE).
This research assesses the results for LEADER projects and S3 projects, and the support for cultural and heritage activities within these programmes. The analysis of S3 and LEADER projects confirmed the emphasis placed on themes such as social innovation, local knowledge and the networking of local and external players. Both programmes aim to support and strengthen local communities. Although CCIs are insufficiently supported, they nevertheless receive attention (and are an explicit category of activities in S3). However, public policies more readily support technological innovations, or agricultural activities that can be linked either to tourism or to the enhancement of heritage.
The key results of the research are:
- Innovation in non-urban areas is above all social, cultural, institutional, and the innovations that appear in these territories come largely from actions undertaken by local actors or groups.
- The analysis of EU innovation policies for non-urban areas show that, when these policies consider innovation, it is mostly about technological innovation.
- However, many actions go beyond technological innovation or agriculture alone, and are clearly aimed at the development of innovation activities in rural areas.
- The review of projects confirms that social and cultural innovation are more important than technological innovation in non-urban areas.
- Taking all dimensions of innovation into account remains a challenge.
- Supporting CCIs remains a source of progress for public policy towards non-urban areas.
Research on innovation in non-urban areas shows that it is above all social, cultural, institutional, and that the innovations that appear in these territories come largely from actions undertaken by local actors or groups. The innovation policies come together around the topic of community action.
However, the results of this research on EU innovation policies for non-urban areas show that, when these policies consider innovation, it is above all about technological innovation, most of the time. The innovation policies also tend to support agricultural activities that may be linked either to tourism or to the enhancement of architectural heritage.
Nonetheless, many actions go beyond technological innovation or agriculture alone, and are clearly aimed at the development of innovative activities in rural areas. This is particularly the case for the LEADER programme, which supports projects that are based on the choices and actions of local populations, with most of the innovations funded being social or institutional in nature. Digital education and support for inclusion projects reflect a concern for territorial and community cohesion.
The share of CCI-related projects among the LEADER projects is relatively high. The S3 strategies, which are focused on regions and place-based policies, support for the development of innovative activities in rural areas is also evident, but technological innovation remains dominant in these strategies.
In this context, the research also found that public innovation policies come up against three main issues:
- The continued consideration of a broad definition of “innovation” which, in rural areas, is more oriented towards social and organizational innovation;
- The need to identify the appropriate level of decision-making (national, regional or local) and to combine different but complementary decision-making levels – cooperation between regions, mobilising their various capacities, can help strengthening inter-regional and cross-border projects;
- The support for interdependencies between traditional industries or sectors of activity such as agriculture, tourism or education and CCIs. This combination of activities offers a wealth of complementary knowledge, strengthens the innovation potential and encourages the development of CCIs as innovation levers in rural territories.
Collective action and social innovation are key elements in regional strategies to emphasize diversity and variety in rural areas. While communities identify local needs and integrate their knowledge and strengths, cooperation between local and external players at regional or sub-regional level is also key. Strengthening cooperation between regions could be crucial to improving a territory’s “absorption capacity.”
Furthermore, the development of CCIs proves to be an essential asset for social innovation and territorial cohesion. Supporting CCIs remains a source of progress for public policy towards non-urban areas. A better integration of creative and cultural activities in innovation support would help improve public policies to consolidate development processes in these sensitive places.
DOWNLOAD REPORT
Unveiling diversification potential and resilience: Paths for cultural and creative activities in non-urban regions
The IN SITU report “New domains in CCIs in non-urban regions” (Deliverable 1.2), developed by the University of Utrecht and published by the project in October 2023, challenges the conventional wisdom on diversification opportunities in non-urban regions. Drawing on empirical studies spanning the last decade, the report uses Evolutionary Economic Geography to explore the relatedness between activities, emphasising the role of occupations and markets in shaping the future paths of regions.
Key findings derived from the report demonstrate that non-urban regions possess untapped diversification opportunities. In fact, non-urban regions exhibit a rich occupation network, showcasing the potential for cultural and creative workers to diversify into various activities. Cultural and Creative Occupations (CCOs) in these regions are surrounded by a diverse range of occupations, indicating high relatedness and significant diversification possibilities.
In particular, CCOs in non-urban regions have significant influence in the occupation network. In this sense, CCOs could play a pivotal role in driving diversification dynamics in these areas, thus presenting ample opportunities for growth and innovation.
Further, using an innovative approach to identify and evaluate trademarks related to cultural and creative activities, we discovered that trademark classes related to Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) act as crucial links connecting various branches of trademarks in general. In non-urban regions, CCI-related trademarks exhibit the potential to promote diversification along diverse paths, surpassing results found in urban regions.
Specific findings for the regions where IN SITU Labs are located show that CCOs across the six non-urban regions under analysis face varying situations. While some regions, like Šibenik-Knin in Croatia and Länsi-Suomi in Finland, show strong connections among CCOs and other occupations, other regions, like the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Portugal and the West Region in Iceland, exhibit lower trademark applications, indicating untapped potential for future diversification opportunities.
Following up this investigation, the report “Socioeconomic resilience and pathways for growth” (Deliverable 1.3), finalised in December 2023, explored the resilience of cultural and creative activities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pivotal role played by digital technologies and skills, particularly in non-urban regions.
Key findings reveal a noteworthy surge in digital trademarks, particularly in non-urban regions, indicating a shift towards digital goods and services during the pandemic. This underscores the adaptability and innovation stemming from regions with robust digital skills.
Another major finding emerges from the analysis of digital skills. Occupations with higher digital skills intensity demonstrated greater resilience to the COVID-19 shock. Regions with a higher concentration of digital skills experienced growth in employment, contrasting with regions with lower digital skills where employment contractions were more prevalent. This underscores the protective role of digital skills in enhancing regional resilience.
Using a sensitivity index, the analysis highlighted the positive influence of high and medium digital skill occupations on regional resilience. The presence of these skills, in fact, played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.
The investigations carried out in these two reports underscore the importance of identifying and supporting occupations and trademarks related to cultural and creative activities, encouraging local policy interventions to foster growth and innovation, especially in non-urban regions. The insights derived can inform policymakers and inspire further research, providing a valuable evolutionary perspective on navigating challenges in the creative and cultural sector.
An overview of the work performed within WP1 – Mapping the socioeconomic contributions and resilience of CCIs
The results presented above represent the culmination of the activities carried out during 2023 within Work Package 1 of the IN SITU Project, under the leadership of Utrecht University.
As a brief overview, the first report, “ Socioeconomic contributions and spillovers of CCIs in non-urban regions” (Deliverable 1.1), developed in May 2023, aimed to assess the socio-economic contribution of creative and cultural workers to innovation in non-urban regions. In Part 1 of the research presented in this report, we combined patents and trademarks as regional innovation metrics and explored the role of CCOs on innovation across urban, intermediate, and rural regions. In Part 2, we proposed to investigate the extent to which collective trademarks could be used as original and complementary metrics to other available economic and innovation indicators.
The second report, “New domains in CCIs in non-urban regions” (Deliverable 1.2) also reported on two pieces of research. In Part 1, the work was focused on identifying the occupations in which each European region is specialised, highlighting cultural and creative occupations. In Part 2, we shifted our focus from occupations to markets where cultural and creative products and services are offered. Both analyses allowed us to identify possibilities for consolidation and the emergence of new specialisations in cultural and creative activities – in terms of workers and markets – across non-urban regions in the European Union.
Finally, the third report, “Socioeconomic resilience and pathways for growth” (Deliverable 1.3) explored possible paths to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic based on relatedness measures calculated for digital occupations and markets. We proposed an identification of the degree of digital skills of occupations and also the trademarks that are associated with digital technologies, and assessed whether occupations and trademarks that are more digital tend to better withstand the COVID-19 shock across urban and non-urban regions.
As an additional task, we complemented the analysis of each report, when possible, with a focus on the regions where the IN SITU Labs are located to provide a tailored analysis for each of the six IN SITU Lab regions, in the hope that these results can help cover the knowledge gap in this field and improve the quantitative monitoring of the opportunities and contributions of CCIs across non-urban regions in Europe.
Find out more, here
Closing 2023 with IN SITU Newsletter #3
Upcoming – Save The Dates “IN SITU research-practice exchange & IN SITU summer school.”
Webinar series: “Cultural vitality in non-urban areas”
Seminar: “How can artists and creatives be entrepreneurial and innovative in non-urban areas?”
Public reports delivered to the European Commission
New domains and cultural marks in CCI’s in non-urban areas
Gender dimension of CCIs in non-urban areas
Introducing the IN SITU Labs: in focus – Ireland
Creative Viability in Non-urban Areas – Webinar N#3
How does cultural and creative work contribute to place-based sustainability and resiliency? — This is the topic of IN SITU Webinar #3, the last (but not least!) event of the IN SITU webinar series “Creative vitality in non-urban areas?”.
On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 14h30-16h30 CET, our hosts and IN SITU partners Mark Justin Rainey (University of Galway) and Ieva Zemite (Latvian Academy of Culture) will guide us through a panel discussion with our speakers:
Patrick Collins (University of Galway – IN SITU Partner)
Jude Ortiz (NORDIK Institue, Algoma University – IN SITU International Advisory Board Member)
Leandro Pisano (Interzona Cultural Association)
Markéta Dolejšová (Aalto University – CreaTures: Creative Practices for Transformational Futures)
Arja Lemmetyinen (University of Turku – DISCE: Developing Inclusive and Sustainable Creative Economies)
Join us for free – Register now here
Creative Viability in Non-urban Areas?
NATFIZ participates in the IN SITU webinars this fall: join us!
This fall, the IN SITU project, where NATFIZ is one of the 13 European consortium partners, is launching a series of three webinars to address key themes that support the work of cultural and creative ecosystems in European non-urban areas. We’ll bring together cultural and creative organisations and initiatives, EU research projects, as well as IN SITU partners and advisors to learn from their insights and experiences and discuss common challenges.
Save the date for webinar N#1:
What contributes to the viability of small-scale creative enterprises (CCIs) in non-urban areas?
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 10:30-12:30 (CEST)
Host: Erna Guðrún Kaaber, Bifröst University, Iceland (IN SITU Partner)
Speakers:
Lidia Varbanova, National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Kr. Sarafov”, https://natfiz.bg/en, Bulgaria (IN SITU Partner)
Ralph Lister, Take Art Ltd, UK – SPARSE Plus
Musa Htlatshwejo, Mhayise Productions – STAND: Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation, South Africa (IN SITU Outreach Partner)
Martha Michailidou, Panteion University, Greece – CORAL-ITN
Ella Björn, Lapland University, Finland – SmartCulTour
With contributions by IN SITU Coordinator Nancy Duxbury, CES | Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra, and IN SITU Advisor Susan Luckman, University of South Australia.
Register for the Webinar 1 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-situ-webinar-series-n1-tickets-709664574847?aff=oddtdtcreator
Upcoming …
Webinar N#2 | How can CCI innovation ecosystems be fostered in non-urban areas? (30 October 2023)
Webinar N#3 | How does cultural and creative work contribute to place-based sustainability and resiliency? (7 December 2023)
IN SITU NEWSLETTER # 2, JULY 2023
The IN SITU journey has begun
Since our last newsletter in December 2022, much has happened and we are eager to share with you our latest developments.
Research methods
Cultural mapping
Three public reports delivered to the European Commission
- Drivers of innovation of CCIs located in non-urban areas
- Socioeconomic contributions and spillovers of CCIs in non-urban regions
- Case studies in each IN SITU Lab location
Introducing the IN SITU Labs: in focus – Finland
IN SITU partners meeting in Rauma, Finland
IN SITU observer…
Publications
- Thinking and Doing in Rural Places: Cultural Practices in Context
- The Rural. Documents of Contemporary Art
- Rural Prosperity through the Arts & Creative Sector
- Rural Resilience Project
- Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rural Europe
- “Cultural and creative ecosystems: a review of theories and methods, towards a new research agenda”
- “Where Is the rural creative class? A systematic literature review about creative industries in low-density areas”
Podcast series
Over the last six months, the IN SITU project participated in 10 events.
The next edition of the NEWSLETTER will be in December 2023
For more information, see here: https://mailchi.mp/1ede48a069d7/in-situ-newsletter-n2-the-in-situ-journey-has-begun
IN SITU partners meet in Rauma, Finland, one of the six IN SITU Lab regions
From May 31 to June 1, 2023 the IN SITU Consortium of partners came together in Rauma, Finland – located in one of the IN SITU Lab areas – to assess the state of research at this point and to discuss and map the next chapter of this Horizon Europe-funded project (no. 101061747). This in-presence working meeting, themed “Mapping and Diagnoses,” was hosted by the University of Turku team of researchers.
Read more here
European Commission receives IN SITU report on ‘Drivers of innovation of CCIs located in non-urban areas’
The IN SITU report is developed by Mondragon Innovation & Knowledge (MIK) of Mondragon University, Spain, with the contribution of all project partners. It provides an initial examination of key trends and drivers of innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), as an overall sector and in relation to those located in non-urban areas.
The research aimed to identify the main drivers and the particularities of CCIs innovation in non-urban areas by taking into consideration the diversity of patterns of form, processes, governance, networking capacity, and value chains (from value creation to service delivery), among other characteristics. It also considered how CCIs act as drivers of innovation in economic and non-economic sectors and contribute to societal well-being and sustainability, including the variety of types of spillover effects of the arts, culture and creative industries.
The research was based on a literature review and analysis involving business reports and scientific research; data from the Eurostat database “Structural Business Statistics and Labour Force Survey,” examined through data mining and statistical business data analytics methods; and a compilation of 156 organisational cases and 55 policies/initiative examples contributed by IN SITU partners.
Link to the IN SITU report “Drivers of innovation of CCIs located in non-urban areas”: https://insituculture.eu/european-commission-receives-in-situ-report-on-drivers-of-innovation-of-ccis-located-in-non-urban-areas/
IN SITU ‘Speak Out’ workshops uncover key local issues and CCIs ecosystems in non-urban regions of Europe
Throughout the months of March and April 2023, IN SITU Lab Partners are organising numerous public workshops and local cultural mapping exercises to uncover residents’ local development issues, to more closely understand the diverse resources of the locales, and to discover the contours, features, and needs of the cultural and creative ecosystems in each of the IN SITU Labs, in non-urban areas located in Iceland, Finland, Azores/Portugal, Ireland, Latvia and Croatia.
Co-led by the University of Galway and the European Network of Cultural Centres, the IN SITU ‘Speak Outs’ workshop series is developed to engage with each community, inviting citizens to present and discuss key development issues and resources of their place. These workshops are complemented with a variety of local mapping and participatory approaches, including participatory cultural mapping, participatory SWOT analysis, future studies methods, collaborative knowledge building and exchange approaches, arts-based methods, joint analysis, and multi-perspective planning approaches.
NATFA is one of the 13 institutional partners on the project: the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra (coordinator); National University of Ireland Galway (Ireland); European Network of Cultural Centres (Belgium); Utrecht University (Netherlands); National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (France); MONDRAGON Innovation & Knowledge (Spain); Kultura Nova Foundation (Croatia); University of the Azores (Portugal); University of Turku (Finland); Latvian Academy of Culture (Latvia); Bifröst University (Iceland); and University of Hildesheim (Germany).
More IN SITU news – https://insituculture.eu/news/
