Good Practice - Project
Improving access to services thanks to digital tools - the '@robase' of Pionsat
CAP funds help set up a space offering digital services to a rural community.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M07: Basic services & village renewal
Beneficiary type
- Local / regional authority
Summary
Since 2010, the municipality of Pionsat, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, planned to develop a space that would improve local life and access to services. The municipality decided to build an innovative new venue, open to cultural, economic and social initiatives.
Opened in 2018, the '@robase' hall boasts an indoor auditorium, events room, bar and ticket office, as well as an outdoor theatre space. It hosts a variety of different kinds of events led by different sections of the community and is particularly valued for its digital facilities. This project was co-funded by the EAFRD and directly contributes to a vibrant local life.
Results
- In 2019, the hall was used 168 times to host various events and activities.
- These have included training sessions, sports events, performances, local school gatherings and a beer festival hosted by @robase in 2019 with over 1 000 participants.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, @robase hosted medical services and a vaccination point.
Promoter
Pionsat municipality
Funding
Total budget: 1 042 677 (EUR)
EAFRD: 290 998 (EUR)
National/Regional: 436 700 (EUR)
Other: 314 979 (EUR) (Pionsat municipality)
Ressources
Good Practice Report - Improving access to services thanks to digital tools - the ‘@robase’ of Pionsat
(PDF – 2.57 Mo)
Context
Pionsat is a small French village of about 1 200 inhabitants located in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region. Following a broad enquiry into how to improve access to services in rural areas, the municipality decided to develop a community hall with several digital features (e.g. projection screen, videoconferencing tools, multimedia room) which would be open to citizens, associations, and local public authorities.
Objectives
The aims of this project included developing and increasing access to digital services; using digital approaches as a tool for the improvement of cultural, economic and social life; and supporting the development of innovative activities and ecosystems.
Activities
Project activities included:
- Planning the construction of the new building - this first step began in the early 2010s. The municipality had long wished to develop an area that would contribute to local life.
- Building the '@robase' community hall - the new building is divided into two main areas. The first, measuring 205 m2, is dedicated to videos and movie projections. Complete with all the necessary technological equipment, this auditorium hosts both private and public events and includes a 40 m2 stage. The second area is a 68 m2 hall which includes a bar and a ticket office that can host its own small events or be used with the auditorium to welcome 750-800 people.
- Following the successful construction of the building, the municipality contributed to the creation of an outdoor area at @robase with a 250-seat theatre auditorium.
Main results
Since opening in 2018, several activities have been organised at @robase:
- In 2019, the hall was used 168 times to host various events and activities.
- These have included training sessions, sports events, performances, local school gatherings and a beer festival hosted by @robase in 2019 with over 1 000 participants.
- Movie projections are organised once a month and welcome 30 to 50 people each time.
- The hall has been used by local private companies to host their meetings.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, @robase hosted medical services and a vaccination point.
Key lessons
- The CAP can be used to support rural quality of life in different ways, which contributes to the EU's Long-term Vision for Rural Areas.
- This type of project is complex to develop but it is important to try to imagine something new and innovative that adds value to local service provision. For example, the @robase includes digital features (high quality video-projection and digital tools for meetings organisations) that make it valuable to a range of users and for a variety of purposes. It also boasts several different, flexible spaces that can be adapted for different needs. This combination makes it unlike any other community hall in the area and creates the possibility to welcome a variety of events and activities that are of interest to a wide audience.