Arts and rurality: an overview

The importance of art and cultural participation in interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration is undeniable and confirmed by the various collaborations between art, science, education and urban planning, among others. Taking a holistic approach, artists are radically shifting their ways of working to explore key challenges, such as resource management, climate, sustainability and environmental justice, to name a few.   

The role that art can play in rural contexts is also a direct response to the many challenges we are facing as a society while showing the interdependence of everything. A look at high-quality contemporary visual and performing arts projects in rural areas tells a story of experiments and forward-looking laboratories for change.

The article provides an overview of high-quality, arts-based initiatives in rural areas whose success lies in the co-creation between, and relevance to, artists and the local community. It provides links and references to understand these initiatives further and highlights the three main ingredients for their success: multi-stakeholder involvement, a supportive policy framework, and stable and accessible funding.