Unlocking the Power of Rural CCIs:
The Intersection of Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
An International Symposium
MAY 30 | 2025 | EDDA | REYKJAVÍK | ICELAND
Unlocking the Power of Rural CCIs: The Intersection of Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Friday, 30 May 2025, Edda, Arngrímsgata 5, 107, Reykjavík, Iceland.
This international symposium, held in Reykjavík, brings together thought leaders, policymakers, researchers, and creatives to explore the transformative potential of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in rural and non-urban areas across Europe.
Organised by the Creative Industries Research Centre in Iceland in collaboration with the Horizon Europe-funded project IN SITU: Place-based Innovation of Cultural and Creative Industries in Non-urban Areas (Grant Agreement no. 101061747) and The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, the symposium offers a unique platform to examine how rural CCIs contribute to innovation, sustainability, and community regeneration.
The event will highlight how place-based creativity, social entrepreneurship, and regenerative cultural practices can drive vibrant, inclusive futures beyond urban centres. The symposium includes the following sessions:
The Geography of Creativity: How Place Shapes Cultural and Creative Innovation
Exploring the role of local identity, heritage, and community in fostering innovation in the cultural and creative industries.
Regenerative Heritage Futures: Rethinking Preservation, Innovation, and Tourism
Exploring how creative industries and local communities can work together to preserve heritage and actively restore and enhance cultural and natural environments, and the role of regenerative tourism in shaping sustainable futures for cultural heritage.
Social Enterprises in Action: Building Resilient Creative Ecosystems
Examining how social enterprises within the creative industries contribute to sustainability, equity, and community development.
Entrepreneurship in the Rural Creative Economy: Turning Ideas into Impact
A dive into the entrepreneurial mindset and strategies driving success in cultural and creative ventures.
The event will take place in English and streamed online from this Facebook event.
Join us for a day of inspiring discussions and knowledge exchange at the intersection of culture, creativity, and rural development.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
9:00 - Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir, symposium host - Chair of Creative Industries Research Centre - Assistant Professor & Program Leader for Creative Industries Studies, Bifröst University
9:05 - Opening: Representative for the Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education
Sigrún Brynja Einarsdóttir - Permanent Secretary
9:10 - Ignite Talk: Entrepreneurship in rural Iceland: What is its scope, and does funding matter?
Vífill Karlsson – Director of the Research Centre for Regional and Local Government Studies - Professor, Bifröst University & Associate Professor, University of Akureyri
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9:15 - The Geography of Creativity: How Place Shapes Cultural and Creative Innovation
MODERATOR: Maria Batle - Communication and Dissemination Manager of the IN SITU Project, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra
From milk and herring to contemporary art
Margrét Elísabet Ólafsdóttir - Professor of art theory, Iceland University of the Arts & Associate Professor, University of Akureyri
Þorgerður brák and Borgarnes: Community Conversations
Emily Lethbridge - Associate Research Professor, The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies
Incubators of Non-Urban Futures: Lab-Based Practices in Regions on the Edge
Mark Rainey - Cultural geographer & Research Associate, University of Galway
Antonija Letinić - Senior advisor for development and strategic partnerships, Kultura Nova Foundation
Hacking Hekla - hackathons, a tool for rural innovation?
Magdalena Falter - PhD in tourism, Researcher, University of Iceland & Project Manager at Iceland Tourism Cluster and Einurð
Co-author: Gunnar Thór Jóhannesson - Professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Iceland
Offshoots: How socially engaged art, and interdisciplinary collaborative research supports resiliency in coastal ecosystems, communities and economies.
Melinda Spooner - Researcher, Faculty of Fine Arts, NSCAD University
10:25 - Discussion
10:45 - Coffee break
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11:00 - Regenerative Heritage Futures: Rethinking Preservation, Innovation, and Tourism
MODERATOR: Mark Rainey - Cultural geographer & Research Associate, University of Galway
Artist Residencies in Rural Iceland: Fostering Creativity and Community Engagement
Gundega Skela - Researcher, art historian & educator, University of Akureyri, University of Iceland
Art, community, heritage in rural areas: case studies from Tuscany?
Sara Del Bene - Artist and consultant, Well-Being ART Work
Constraints, creativity and centralisation: The heritage futures of Iceland
Bergsveinn Þórsson - Associate Professor & Programme Leader for Public Administration, Bifröst University
Regenerative and disruptive Heritage Futures
Katriina Siivonen - Adjunct Professor of cultural heritage research & Senior University Lecturer in futures studies, University of Turku
11:55 - Discussion
12:10 - Lunch
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12:50 - Social Enterprises in Action: Building Resilient Creative Ecosystems
MODERATOR: Bergsveinn Þórsson - Associate Professor & Programme Leader for Public Administration, Bifröst University
Socio-Cultural Centres as Ecosystems for Just Sustainability Transitions
Martina Fraioli - Project & Research Manager, European Network of Cultural Centres
Co-author: Anna Maria Ranczakowska - Social anthropologist, researcher & educator
"Instead of Accepting Urbanization as a Given": LungA and the Economy of Enrichment
Marteinn Sindri Jónsson - Lecturer, Iceland University of the Arts and Bifröst University & Marie-Sklodowska Curie Doctoral Fellow, Zeppelin University
Community Co-Creation: The role of culture institutions in supporting immigrants’ integration
Anna Wojtynska - Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland
Dögg Sigmarsdóttir - Project Manager: Co-Creation of Inclusive Public Spaces
Co-author: Lara Wilhelmine Hoffmann - Postdoctoral researcher, School of Education, University of Iceland
Reshaping the Future: A Case Study of Rými-X's Innovative Approach to Youth Engagement
Erna Kaaber - Doctoral student, University of Hildesheim & Specialist, Bifröst University and the Creative Industries Research Centre
Social enterprise in arts and culture for sustainable transition
Silvia Ferreira - Associate Professor in Sociology, Faculty of Economics, Coimbra University & Researcher, Centre for Social Studies
14:00 - Discussion
14:20 - Coffee break
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14:35 - Entrepreneurship in the Rural Creative Economy: Turning Ideas into Impact (Part 1)
MODERATOR: Paola Di Nunzio - Research Manager of the IN SITU project, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra
Culturepreneurship and the Economization of Cultural Work: Rethinking Entrepreneurial Narratives in the Cultural and Creative Industries
Njörður Sigurjónsson - Professor of Cultural Management, Bifröst University
Capacity building for creative entrepreneurs in non-urban areas: Opportunities, challenges and trends
Lidia Varbanova - Professor and Program Director, National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts & Program Lead on behalf of NATFIZ for the IN SITU project
Co-author: Iliana Dimitrova - Magistrate of “Culture studies” – Cultural journalism and management
Like Magic? Enterprise Strandagaldur and its effect on society
Anna Björg Þórarinsdóttir - Director of Strandagaldur
Cultural and traditional farming woven together: A Case Study of Rural Entrepreneur in Dalir Iceland
Anna Hildur Hildibrandsdóttir - Assistant Professor & Program Leader for Creative Industries Studies, Bifröst University
15:30 - Discussion
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15:45 - Entrepreneurship in the Rural Creative Economy: Turning Ideas into Impact (Part 2)
The ripple effect of one króna exchange – the story of Skaftfell Art Center in East Iceland
Tinna Guðmundsdóttir - Visual artist & cultural worker
Unlocking the potentials for immersive literary and film tourism
Vera Vilhjálmsdóttir - Researcher, Icelandic Tourism Research Centre
Strategic roadmap for rural CCI competitiveness: Opportunity spaces through Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Josune Prieto - Researcher & lecturer, Mondragon University
16:25 - Discussion
16:40 - Closing words
Nancy Duxbury - Principal Researcher, Centre for Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra & Coordinator of the IN SITU Project
16:50 - Symposium closing
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Please note: The agenda is subject to change. While every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, the organisers reserve the right to make adjustments as necessary.