Culture & communities for sustainable rural transitions

Absentia is a cultural organisation based in Sardinia, working to activate inclusive and sustainable transitions in remote and rural areas through culture, creativity, and territorial engagement. We support the development of smart communities by combining artistic practice, social innovation, and digital experimentation rooted in local contexts.

Our flagship initiative, Pescatori Digitali (https://exploreabsentia.eu/pescatori-digitali-coliving/),,) is a coliving and collaborative residency programme that brings together creatives, researchers, and community members to reimagine the future of inland Sardinian villages. By merging local knowledge, digital tools, and co-design methods, the project explores new forms of living, working, and learning in marginalised territories—generating scalable models for community-based innovation.

In the framework of Horizon Europe, Absentia contributes:

• Experience in engaging small communities in processes of digital and ecological transformation

• Tested models of coliving, cultural regeneration, and participatory governance

• Strong connections with local actors: citizens, youth, SMEs, public administrations, and civil society

• Capacity to translate cultural and creative processes into systemic rural innovation

We are looking to join consortia aiming to bridge the digital divide, empower communities, and co-create resilient, smart rural futures through integrated and human-centered approaches.

🌍 https://exploreabsentia.eu