A pilot academy for people activating rural places.
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We're currently on the lookout for 30 upcoming rural activators in Spain | Portugal | Italy that wish to bring creative approaches to revitalizing rural spaces and communities.
About the project
About the project
Welcome to the Rural Activators Pilot Academy, from the Architecto-Nemata EU International project!
This is a pioneer initiative designed to support 30+ upcoming rural innovators across Europe to activate their territories by regenerating unused or abandoned spaces, to develop social innovation inside them, and inspire others to do the same.
Rather than directly intervening in rural spaces, the project focuses on empowering local actors with the skills, methodologies and networks needed to design, lead and sustain regeneration processes in their own territories.
The Academy connects participants from Italy, Spain and Portugal in a shared learning journey based on experimentation, collaboration and real-world application.
The Academy connects participants from Italy, Spain and Portugal in a shared learning journey based on experimentation, collaboration and real-world application.
JOIN RURAL ACTIVATORS ACADEMY
JOIN RURAL ACTIVATORS ACADEMY
Application deadline 10th of April 2026
Key Objectives and work areas
Key Objectives and work areas
🛠️
🛠️
Strengthen skills and methodologies
Strengthen skills and methodologies
Learn to design & manage rural regeneration projects.
🔍
🔍
Support local experimentation
Support local experimentation
Apply what you learn directly into your own project and local community.
🌍
🌍
Foster transnational exchange
Foster transnational exchange
Join a network of rural actors across Europe and learn from each other.
Methodology
Methodology
Rural Activators Academy is based on an action-learning approach that combines training, experimentation and international collaboration.
As a participant you would not only learn about rural regeneration, you actively develop your own project while being supported by a transnational network.
The Rural Activators program brings together:
30+ rural innovation projects across Europe (the participants)
6 reference cases per country (the established cases))
A platform for peer learning, mentoring, and European collaboration
What can you learn?
What can you learn?
🚀
🚀
Learning from real success cases
Participants explore inspiring examples of rural activations across Europe, analysing strategies, governance models and sustainability approaches.
🍃
🍃
Local experimentation
Each participant works on their own initiative, applying tools and methodologies directly in their local context.
🤝
🤝
Peer exchange across territories
Participants share challenges, feedback and experiences with peers from Italy, Spain and Portugal.
🎬
🎬
Blended training format
The Academy combines in-person workshops, online sessions and collaborative workspaces.
Practical and place-based
Practical and place-based
A place-based approach: each rural territory has unique social, cultural and environmental conditions.
You will adapt the tools and frameworks to your own reality, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.
Rural Activators
Rural Activators
You can explore the participating projects on the map. Each location represents a rural community engaged in regeneration processes and experimentation.
A network across communities
A network across communities
Rural Activators Academy brings together participants from different European countries and diverse rural contexts, creating a shared transnational learning network.
The project connects local actors from Italy, Spain and Portugal who are actively working on rural regeneration initiatives in their territories.
Participants can join as individuals or as teams. Each participant develops their own local project while collaborating with peers facing similar challenges in other countries.
Through this exchange, the Academy strengthens both local impact and European cooperation.
💻
💻
Learning Platform
Learning Platform
Rural Activators Academy is supported by a dedicated digital learning platform that connects participants across territories and ensures continuity beyond in-person activities.
The platform acts as a collaborative space where participants can access resources, share progress and co-develop their regeneration initiatives.
Learning materials
Access to training modules, case studies and methodological tools.
Peer interaction
Opportunities for feedback, exchange and discussion across countries.
Project workspaces
Dedicated cases projects where you document and develop your local activation projects.
Shared resources
Templates, frameworks and practical tools to support implementation.
Project partners:
Project partners:
Rural Activators is developed by a transnational consortium of organisations working on rural activation, education and place-based initiatives.
Contact
Contact
Interested in Rural Activators Academy?
Whether you would like to participate, collaborate, or simply learn more about the project, we would be happy to hear from you.
Get in touch to explore collaboration and participation opportunities.
We aim to build a growing network of rural actors committed to regeneration, innovation, and cooperation across Europe.
Press releases
Press releases
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