5 conclusions and 12 inspiring initiatives from Bautopia 2024

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We were fortunate to participate in this space to exchange ideas about the future of creative hubs and rural coliving alongside other creative clusters from across Europe, gathered in Bologna.

This meeting, organized by the European Creative Hubs Network , of which we are a part, was an exciting opportunity to catch up on the innovations being carried out by creative hubs beyond our immediate surroundings.

In this article, we share the key conclusions and inspiring initiatives from Bautopia 2024, which we believe will be useful for you.

1. We are much more than just Rural Coliving

It was especially interesting to see how all the spaces that make up this network see ourselves as facilitators for community and creativity, in our case, in the rural world.

Understanding the role we play deeply drives us to continue our efforts: going even further than just offering a space to live and work from nature - strengthening ourselves as a meeting point for creativity, exchange, and collaboration both among individuals and between the city and the rural world (and vice versa).

2. Being small can be very big, because it keeps us focused

We won’t deny that at times we felt overwhelmed by the scale of the projects with which we shared these days. At the same time, we felt strengthened in the role we can play in the evolution of the sector precisely because we are small.

We believe that small and rooted actors like us and many others we had the opportunity to chat with can play a key role: bringing purpose and maintaining the positive impact linked to individuals and small communities, beyond large structuring policies, which are also very necessary.

As you know, FEM comes from the will to create a positive impact on both rural and urban communities, with the premise that noise and cement often disconnect us from our most basic human needs (mammals, as the great Jesús Lizano would say) and push us to live to meet certain professional expectations we inherited from early childhood.

3. We are not alone

It’s not easy to carry out your own project, and even less so if you want to contribute something to others, which means continuously reevaluating and deciding each step from the heart. Only those who have tried it know that behind the beautiful photos and cheerful videos, there are moments of doubt, exhaustion, and weeks when it seems like no progress is being made and everything is falling apart.

It is therefore extremely helpful to see that we are not the only ones facing this and to be in touch with people behind projects we admire and from which we draw inspiration.

It would be impossible to mention them all in this space (sorry), but we want to share some of the positive energy we took from Bautopia 2024. We recommend you check out the projects listed at the end of this article, as no matter your sector, you’ll find things that will add value to your entities.

4. There’s life beyond pose (in spanish: “postureo”)

When we think of creativity, it’s common to confuse it with modernity (postmodernity, even). Aesthetic, the latest fashion, and even posing and superficial attitudes come to mind.

Bautopia 2024 was a perfect occasion to break myths. Throughout the event, above all, the good atmosphere, humility, and eagerness to learn from others prevailed, as did the will to connect from a human level and the depth of the conversations and bonds created.

It might seem like an obvious point, but it’s still remarkable.

5. Bologna is wonderful - Let’s save our cities and towns from uniformity!

We couldn’t finish this article without mentioning Bologna as a city. We knew little about it, and what we discovered fascinated us. Despite spending very little time there, we could sense that Bologna has evolved and grown around its university, founded in 1088 (the first university in Europe!). It seemed like a vibrant place, connected with culture and the pursuit of knowledge.

In times like the present, when we are overwhelmed by synthetic proposals, simplistic solutions to complex problems, and where it seems the only thing that matters is how much money you make, seeing that there are still places fighting to preserve their uniqueness against speculative and homogenizing models is hopeful.

On the other hand, it’s impossible not to compare it to cities (much closer) that proudly wear postmodernity and speculation as their identity. It’s always good to remind ourselves that, together, we need to protect our cities and towns from the voracity of these forces.

Perhaps from Bologna, we can learn that culture and knowledge can serve as a strong shield against these dark forces.

We’d love to count on your knowledge!

Do you have something to contribute to this reflection? Do you know of similar projects that fit this vision? We’d love to connect with them!

Here are 12 inspiring initiatives from various sectors. Enjoy!

Lottozero textile laboratories

Textile design, art, and culture center with an open laboratory for production, experimentation, and research. A fertile environment and an international hub for networking in the textile industry. Also, their founders are nice! | Prato, Italy

Subtopia

Subtopia is a center for arts, culture, and social engagement. On march 2025, they will be hosting Cross Con 2025, an international cross-innovation conference. We also highlight Katapult, their creative incubator. | Botkyrka, Sweden

DINAMO10

They started as a small rural coworking space but, over time, have become a Creative Hub focused on exploring new innovation models through cultural and creative industries. They act as a catalyst and driver of various inspiring initiatives. | Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Pueblos Remotos

Our friends at Pueblos Remotos have a vision very much aligned with FEM: Bringing ‘Connected Rurality’ to rural areas by connecting local entrepreneurs and "digital talent", co-creating alternative tourism experiences and raising awareness of the rural ecosystem. A must-see! | Tenerife, Spain

Spazio DumBo

The hosts of the conference. An old industrial complex converted into an urban regeneration space combining culture, innovation, art, and work. Thanks for hosting us - you’re a great inspiration for local governments! | Bologna, Italy | More info

Anceu Coliving

Along with Ruralco, they are the rural colivings in Spain with whom we have the closest contact. Each of us has our mission, but their founders are incredible: awake people, always in motion, eager to connect honestly and move projects forward. We hope we share this path for many more years! | Ponte-Caldelas, Galicia, Spain

European Creative Hubs Network

The European Creative Hubs Network, organizer of Bautopia, brings together most of the projects we’re sharing here, with the mission to improve the creative, economic, and social impact of hubs across Europe and neighboring countries. We encourage you to join!

Music Innovation Hub

Music is Social Change! A social enterprise acting as a study center, production company, and consultant for the music industry, while incubating new artistic talents.

Transfolab Bcn

A creative center fostering innovation and sustainable design. This FAB Lab provides unique space and support to makers, artists, and designers to develop projects focused on the circular economy and waste reuse. We had the opportunity to meet its founder, Nada, and we’re eager to establish synergies :) Barcelona | Spain

Tobias Till Keye

Climate pact ambassador interested in the sustainable development of rural areas, regenerative agriculture, food systems, and the well-being economy. It is worth keeping in touch, especially if your project is in these areas. | Rothenklempenow, Germany

A Dimora

A great example of an artist residence in rural areas with a strong focus on its impact on the local community. | Montagna Fiorentina, Italy | More info

Creative FLIP

A project co-funded by the EU supporting healthy and sustainable ecosystems related to finance, learning, innovation, and intellectual property rights for the cultural and creative sectors.

We’d love to count on your knowledge!

Do you have something to contribute to this reflection? Do you know of similar projects that fit this vision? We’d love to connect with them!