The project aimed to explore the potential of participatory artistic practices as a tool for non-formal learning and cultural activation in rural contexts, while strengthening cooperation among organisations working with young people in marginal areas. Through a transnational pathway structured around artistic residencies and training moments, the project encouraged intercultural exchange among participants from different European contexts, promoted dialogue between different youth work approaches and supported the development of new perspectives on the role of young people in the development of rural communities. Another objective was to experiment with ways of adapting these practices to younger target groups, particularly adolescents and minors, promoting intergenerational dialogue, active participation and a stronger connection between young people and their territories. The project also contributed to strengthening the competences of participants and partner organisations in the field of non-formal education and youth work, fostering the development of shared practices and the production of transferable tools useful for working with young people in rural contexts.
RuralizArt Education was developed through the collaboration between organisations working in rural areas of Italy, Spain and Portugal, united by a shared commitment to valuing marginal territories as spaces for creativity, participation and social innovation. In many rural regions, young people grow up in contexts characterised by geographical isolation, limited access to cultural opportunities and few occasions for international exchange. This can contribute to reinforcing the perception of rural areas as places with limited prospects. The project was therefore designed to promote new narratives of rurality through participatory artistic practices and non-formal education processes capable of strengthening the relationship between young people, territory and local communities, while encouraging greater youth participation in local cultural life. Through transnational cooperation, the partner organisations combined complementary competences to experiment with innovative ways of engaging young people, strengthening youth work in rural contexts and developing participatory cultural processes rooted in local territories while maintaining a European perspective.