Held from 11 to 13 May 2026 in Valmiera, Latvia, the international conference "Culture Matters Here: Cultivating Creative Place-based Innovation in Non-urban Communities" marked the conclusion of the Horizon Europe project "IN SITU – Place-based Innovation of Cultural and Creative Industries in Non-urban Areas."

The event brought together 130 researchers, cultural practitioners, artists, policymakers, decision-makers, and local community representatives from 28 countries. Over three days, participants explored project results and research demonstrating how culture and creativity can contribute to the development, resilience, and sustainability of small, peripheral, rural, and non-urban communities.

The programme featured more than 40 research presentations and case studies covering topics such as cultural policy, heritage governance, community development, crafts, music practices, culture and health, digital creativity, and innovation in rural and non-urban settings. Keynote lectures were delivered by Susan Luckman, Timothy Wojan, Jude Ortiz, and Nancy Duxbury. A central focus was placed on knowledge exchange, the role of place-based innovation, cross-sectoral collaboration, and future policy directions for creative ecosystems beyond major cities.

Alongside the formal sessions, participants joined study visits to cultural, heritage, and creative initiatives in Valmiera Municipality. The hosts also arranged a cultural programme that provided opportunities for informal exchange and networking. The conference successfully marked the end of the four-year IN SITU project, highlighting its contributions to capacity building and policy recommendations for Europe's non-urban cultural sectors.

The event was 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, Valmiera County Municipality, and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Further information about the project is available on the IN SITU website.