Co-Constructive Participation in Arts and Cultural Heritage as a Key for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas? A Scoping Review

Opportunities to participate in the arts and cultural heritage may drive sustainable rural regional development – particularly in social terms by strengthening foster health, well-being, and social cohesion. We explore patterns in research on rural participation in arts and heritage. A search of two databases yielded n = 49 relevant studies. These were categorized by the role of co-constructive participation, the facets of arts and cultural heritage covered, and research designs. Results show studies address receptive, active, and various co-constructive forms of participation. Four patterns related to research on co-constructive participation in the arts and cultural heritage emerged: (1) local participation in preserving heritage, (2) promoting social bonds through arts, (3) arts-based approaches tackling social issues, and (4) hosting as co-constructive participation. While these patterns highlight the potential of arts and heritage for sustainable social and cultural rural development, most studies are qualitative; further research should focus on quantitative evidence to complement findings on the potential benefits of co-constructive participation for rural communities.