People Living Arts through Community-based Empowerment and experiences

forthcoming

PLACE - PEOPLE LIVING ARTS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED EMPOWERMENT AND EXPERIENCES seeks to co-create an innovative, place-based and sustainable model for the safeguarding and promotion of Biocultural Heritage (BCH), positioning it as a driver of social cohesion, environmental resilience, and cultural innovation in rural Europe. The project empowers ecomuseums—community-managed heritage institutions deeply rooted in local knowledge, practices, and landscapes—as engines of inclusive participation, talent retention and sustainable rural development. Recognizing the transformative potential of BCH in revitalizing rural territories, PLACE offers a unique model involving 8 EU organizations from Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Spain, and Norway. Activities will focus on 3 pilot areas—Bergamo (IT), Dobrich (BG), and Messinia (GR)—starting with BCH mapping and studying global ecomuseum good practices. A study visit to Museumssenteret i Hordaland (Norway)—an exemplary case in participatory heritage management—will inform a research phase to identify effective strategies for upskilling ecomuseums. These insights will shape a new model that fuses BCH preservation with creative talent engagement and economic sustainability. PLACE will activate targeted activities such as training and mobility programs for cultural professionals, creative residencies for young talents and live testing events to foster ecomuseums innovation, storytelling and management. Moreover, each pilot will develop a sustainable business plan to ensure long-term viability.The final phase focuses on capitalization and scale-up through transfer workshops, capacity-building sessions and dissemination activities aimed at encouraging the adoption of PLACE methodology across Europe. The initiative is supported by 20 entities, including 3 territorial partners, 5 knowledge providers and 12 associated partners—ranging from active pilot ecomuseums to institutions committed to replicating and mainstreaming PLACE approach.