Focusing on cultural narratives and creative practices, the seminar examines how rurality is increasingly becoming a site of cultural production and socio-spatial transformation. It provides an interdisciplinary platform to reflect on how these transformations are represented and experienced, in an era where urban and rural life are increasingly reshaping each other.

About the speakers

Prof. Dr. Esther Peeren, Professor of Cultural Analysis at the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, UvA, will present findings from the ERC-funded research project Rural Imaginations, which challenges persistent and often romanticized cultural imaginaries of rural life across five continents.

Prof. Dr. Menelaos Gkartzios, Professor of Planning at Middle East Technical University and Reader in Planning & Rural Development at Newcastle University, will present insights into how artistic practices affect rural development and rural research processes. His work highlights how creative individuals and communities are reshaping the cultural, economic, and spatial landscapes of rural areas.