The IN SITU project has announced its final international conference, “Culture Matters Here. Cultivating Creative Place-based Innovation in Non-urban Communities,” to be held 11–13 May 2026 in Valmiera, Latvia.

The event will gather researchers, cultural practitioners, artists, policymakers, and community leaders to explore how culture and creativity can drive innovation and sustainable development in non-urban areas across Europe and beyond.

Organised by the Latvian Academy of Culture and the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with Culture Action Europe, the European Network of Cultural Centres, and local hosts Valmiera County Municipality and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, the conference will mark the culmination of the IN SITU – Place-based Innovation of Cultural and Creative Industries in Non-urban Areas project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.

The conference invites proposals on themes including:

• Strengthening cultural and creative practice and place-based innovation
• Fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and partnerships for local benefit
• Advancing planning and policy frameworks for creative work in non-urban areas.

The call for proposals is now open, with submissions due by 8 December 2025.

Further information on participation, registration, and travel arrangements is available on the conference webpage here.