Why Is a Rural Renaissance Necessary?

The challenges faced by rural areas are manifold: from social inequality and demographic decline to cultural erosion and the stark realities of climate change. These are not mere setbacks but existential threats to the fabric of village life that once thrummed with the heartbeat of tradition and community.

Revitalizing Villages: The Artistic Social Campsite Approach

The Artistic Social Campsite approach presents a novel and dynamic pathway for revitalizing villages, blending the allure of art with the communal spirit of camping. This innovative concept transforms rural landscapes into creative hubs, where artists, locals, and visitors collaborate, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas and cultural enrichment. By turning underutilized spaces into artistic and social gathering spots, this approach not only rejuvenates village life but also attracts new interest and investment, breathing new life into rural communities.

Rural Renaissance  is a practise-oriented research and a tool that offers a successful model with a plethora of insights that can significantly contribute to the field of rural revitalisation and creative economies.

OSLEN FEST

Oslen Fest: a rural fest Bridging Cities, Villages, and Generations Through Festival Magic

Oslen Fest, a dynamic cultural festival in Bulgaria, has significantly bridged cities, villages, and generations, embodying the spirit of rural renaissance. This festival gathers local inhabitants, artists, and a diverse international audience, promoting communal harmony and cultural exchange. Featuring workshops, art displays, and discussions, it focuses on village revitalization and includes a children’s program that blends entertainment with education. Oslen Fest is more than just a rural festival; it’s a catalyst for change, a platform for connecting the past with the future, and a testament to the enduring spirit of rural communities. It stands as a shining example of how cultural events can effectively bridge cities, villages, and generations, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and mutual understanding​

Join us

Become a volunteer for our village revitalization project by helping create an artistic social campsite, either on-site or online. Be part of the creation of an artistic hub. Apply now!

Become A Partner

Let’s collaborate and become partners in this exciting venture. Let’s exchange good practices, ideas, networks and create a better future together! Do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas!

Host a workshop

Are you an artist, innovator, entrepreneur, educator, an amazing changemaker or maybe something else? Then come and share a workshop with your unique skills and perspectives to our community. You are more than welcome!

Support us

Donate and support a vital cause in one of the least developed areas in the EU. Donate for a rural cause or help us improve our funding strategies and create a sustainable model enabling us to grow and make a lasting impact in our community.

Rural Renaissance – A tool for revitalising villages


The research offers a successful model with a plethora of insights that can significantly contribute to the field of rural revitalisation and creative economies. It explores the vast potential of rural areas as reservoirs of unique strengths, authenticity, and invisible treasures. The research applies an innovative model in the least-developed and most impoverished area in the EU – Northwest Bulgaria.


But why is leveraging culture pivotal? The findings suggest that culture can be a potent tool in addressing complex societal issues, from social inequality to the erosion of cultural identity. In doing so, it offers a response, underscoring the need for a holistic, multifaceted approach deeply rooted in community values and inclusivity, emphasising participatory methods, community-driven impact, cultural engagement, and systems thinking.


Culture’s systemic impact on a national scale is profound and transformative. Given that rural depopulation is a pan-European concern, the question arises: Why is the role of cultural and creative economies so crucial, and what innovative solutions can they propose? Concepts like the Artistic Social Campsite beckon deeper exploration. What is the intrinsic connection between trust-building and successful co-creation? Delving into the full report might hold the answers.

Access to culture

How do we manage to provide opportunities for access to culture in places where it is limited?

thriving communities

What strategies have proven effective in fostering community prosperity in regions previously facing decline?

social equality

How have we championed social equality to foster vibrant communities with equal opportunities for all?

climate change

What strategies have we implemented to combat climate change?

cultural exchange

How the model transforms a depopulating village into an artistic zone for cultural exchange?

practice oriented research

Why is practice-oriented research essential for creating effective solutions and fostering thriving, sustainable communities

community driven impact

How does our commitment to community-driven impact and listening to the voices of locals drive the success of our initiatives?

systems thinking

Why is systems thinking crucial in the process of revitalizing a village?

contact information

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