Rural Creative Micro-Economies and Digital Heritage as Drivers of European Belonging

I am seeking to join or help shape a consortium for HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-HERITAGE-09-two-stage: Open topic: Impact-driven research on realising the full potential of cultural heritage, arts and cultural and creative industries.

I am particularly interested in developing a project around “Sustaining Europe’s intangible heritage through rural creative micro-economies”, exploring how small-scale cultural activity, local creative practitioners, and community heritage initiatives contribute to sustainable innovation, rural resilience, and a stronger European sense of belonging.

Potential themes include:

• Rural creative micro-economies and new livelihood models for cultural practitioners

• The role of intangible cultural heritage in regional innovation and sustainable development

• Digital and sonic heritage, including storytelling, soundscapes, and new transmission models

• Immersive cultural routes and inclusive XR approaches to landscape, memory, and place

• Youth engagement with heritage through digital media, hybrid performance, and short-form formats

• Community-led and participatory approaches to cultural innovation

• The relationship between archives, cultural memory, performance, and local identity

I can contribute expertise in intangible cultural heritage, participatory and practice-based research, rural cultural ecosystems, digital heritage, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement. My work includes community-based projects in North Kerry and development of the Living Tradition Lab.

This topic supports projects demonstrating how cultural heritage and the creative industries can drive sustainable innovation and strengthen European belonging.