Where ideas take roots

Italy & France  |  2024-2026  |  Ongoing  |  Erasmus+ KA220-YOU & KA210-ADU

OVERVIEW

Erasmus+ small-scale partnership combining somatic practices and nature-based learning for adult education. Innovative methodology addresses digital wellbeing and work-life balance for remote workers. European partnership developing transferable wellness frameworks for rural contexts.

OUTCOMES

• 5-day intensive training course

• 6-part webinar series on somatic practices

• Nature immersion workshops in Italy and France

• Somatic practice toolkit for youth workers

• Mentor-mentee program development

PARTNERS

Grain&Sens (France), French National Agency for Erasmus+

Euro-Mediterranean Region | 2024-2025 | Published | Policy Paper

Overview

Anna Lindh Foundation commissioned policy paper on public space revitalization for Euro-Mediterranean social cohesion. Cross-regional analysis from Paris to Essaouira developing participatory design frameworks and governance recommendations aligned with UNESCO and EU sustainability standards.

Outcomes

•       Comprehensive policy framework for public space interventions

•       Cross-regional analysis: Europe and MENA countries

•       Recommendations for standardized social cohesion indicators

•       Mediterranean Public Space Network proposal

•       Practitioner exchange program methodology

•       Published by Anna Lindh Foundation

Partners

Anna Lindh Foundation, Culture Resource (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy), Euro-Mediterranean cultural networks

Italy • 2025 - 2027 • Accredited Body • Erasmus+ KA120-ADU Accreditation

OVERVIEW

Erasmus+ accreditation for adult education mobility programs. Inesto SRL SB facilitates international staff training, learner exchanges, and professional development in territorial regeneration and sustainable tourism. Strengthens European network for rural innovation and lifelong learning.

PARTNERS

Erasmus+ National Agency Italy INDIRE

Tuscania, Lazio  |  2019-2025 |  Ongoing development  |  Event Management & Development

OVERVIEW

Since 2019, Inesto has been deeply involved in the development of this festival in Tuscania, Lazio. The event combines music, holistic practices, and healing arts within a historic setting. Inesto’s role includes strategic development, cultural curation, healing area design, and administrative management. It serves as a large-scale implementation of the "Culture as a Service" model to foster community engagement.

OUTCOMES

• Cultural and healing program curation

• Festival administration and development

• "Culture as a Service" large-scale implementation

• Holistic practices and workshop programming

• Community building and engagement strategy

PARTNERS

Believe lab aps, local Tuscania partners, Comune di Tuscania, artist and healer networks

Essaouira, Morocco  |  2025  |  Completed  |  International Cultural Documentation

OVERVIEW

Anna Lindh Foundation creative mobility project in Morocco. Month-long documentary residency capturing Essaouira's artisan traditions, cultural heritage, and Euro-Mediterranean dialogue. Partnership with Argania produces visual archive supporting sustainable cultural tourism development.

OUTCOMES

• Complete photo and video archive of artisan traditions

• Documentary film in development (18-22 minutes)

• Artisan collaboration networks activated

• Skills transfer program with young local artists

• Interview documentation with cultural leaders

PARTNERS

Anna Lindh Foundation, Argania culture et développement

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Italy & Spain | 2022-2024 | Published | Research Paper & Academic Publication

Overview

Academic research presented at RGCS 2025 Milan symposium. Three-year ethnographic study across 6 Mediterranean villages analyzing how rural settlements mediate between traditional and digital work cultures. Develops theoretical framework for understanding villages as dynamic cultural interfaces.

Outcomes

•       Three-year ethnographic study across 6 Mediterranean villages

•       45 interviews with artists, remote workers, and local residents

•       18 months of cultural program documentation

•       Development of 'cultural interfaces' theoretical framework

•       RGCS Symposium 2025 presentation in Milan

•       Academic paper accepted for publication

Partners

RGCS (Research Group on Collaborative Spaces), Politecnico di Milano, Inesto network partners

Essaouira, Morocco  |  2023-present  |  Active  |  Coliving/Workation Program

OVERVIEW

A professional residency program in Essaouira’s UNESCO-listed medina. Operating since 2023, it transforms tourism into "temporary residency" with community impact. Annual Hosts international artists and remote workers for 2-week to 3-month immersive experiences, offering workspace and networking with local artisans. The program blends cultural immersion with professional growth, facilitating workshops and Erasmus+ project collaborations.

OUTCOMES

• Ongoing professional residency program since 2023

• Cross-cultural professional networks

• Artisan collaboration opportunities

• Erasmus+ project integration

• Temporary residency model with community impact

PARTNERS

Argania Culture and Development, Essaouira artisan networks

Online |  2025  |  Completed  |  Training & Capacity Building

OVERVIEW

This online program disseminated Inesto's "Culture as a Service" methodology to 17 participants across 7 Euro-Mediterranean countries. It included a dedicated session for 20 women from Lebanon and Palestine. Topics ranged from asset mapping to sustainable business models, culminating in project pitches for various territorial contexts, such as olive heritage in Lebanon and prehistoric monuments in Poland.

OUTCOMES

• 17 participants trained from 7 countries

• 20 women from Lebanon and Palestine trained (free session)

• Project pitches developed for territorial regeneration

• Professional network created across Euro-Mediterranean region

• Methodology toolkit disseminated

• Collaborative e-book publication

PARTNERS

Anna Lindh Foundation, Creative Unite EU

Italy, Belgium, Spain, France  |  2024-2026  |  Ongoing  |  Erasmus+ KA220-YOU

OVERVIEW

Erasmus+ cooperation partnership developing digital tools for youth participation in rural areas. Inesto joins a consortium of 4 European partners creating innovative methodologies for youth civic engagement and community-driven territorial development. 2-year implementation.

OUTCOMES

• Interactive map of 40+ participatory innovation practices

• Community of Practices (CoP) with expert stakeholders

• Hybrid training program for Participatory Space Facilitators

• Two Smart Participative Labs in local communities

• Online platform with accessible training modules

• Methodology for replicating participatory practices

PARTNERS

Gaia Education (Spain - Coordinator), Mundus (Belgium), Grain&Sens (France), Inesto APS (Italy)

San Marco D'Alunzio, Sicily | 2023-2024 | Completed | Erasmus+ KA153 Training Course

Overview

An Erasmus+ mobility project that trained 24 youth workers from 8 countries in San Marco D’Alunzio, Sicily. Using non-formal education and placemaking, it equipped participants to engage young people in rural development. The training merged international guests with local village life, leading to six social enterprise ideas, such as environmental campaigns and food waste initiatives, across the partner network.

Outcomes

•       24 youth workers trained from 8 European countries

•       80+ young people engaged in follow-up activities

•       Network of rural youth communities established

•       6 social enterprise ideas developed

•       Motivational video promoting rural repopulation

•       Strong international partnership network created

Partners

8 partner organizations from Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Portugal, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy; Comune di San Marco D'Alunzio

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San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily | 2023-2024 | Completed | Erasmus+ KA153 Training Course

Overview

An Erasmus+ training course in San Vito Lo Capo focused on turning creative ideas into cooperative actions in rural areas. Using Design Thinking and the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework, 28 youth workers learned skills in presence, collaboration, and long-term orientation. Nature education was integral to the program, which took place at Timbuktu Hostel, Inesto's operational base and cultural hub.

Outcomes

•       28 youth workers trained from 7 European countries

•       EUR 31,208 Erasmus+ grant awarded

•       Design Thinking methodology implemented

•       Inner Development Goals framework introduced

•       7 follow-up activities reaching 70+ young people

•       Inspirational poster for rural repopulation created

Partners

7 partner organizations from Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Portugal, France, Spain, and Italy; Timbuktu Hostel; Comune di San Vito Lo Capo

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Poland | 2025 | Erasmus+ Youth Exchange

Overview

Erasmus+ youth exchange in Poland's Tatra Mountains focused on nurturing creative potential and personal development among young Europeans through immersive experience combining outdoor adventure, artistic expression, and intercultural exchange. 

Outcomes

•       28 youth workers to be trained

•       Nature connection methodologies

•       Peer support network creation

•       8-day intensive training program

•       600 young people reached post-project (target)

Partners

International consortium of youth organizations working in rural areas

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Meaus, Galicia/Portugal Border | 2022-present | Ongoing | Rural Regeneration & Brand Development

Overview

Located at 1,000 meters in the Galician mountains, this project revitalizes a historic border village. Inesto developed the brand identity and strategy, creating a visual language centered on transformation and belonging. The village offers coworking spaces and Wi-Fi, allowing digital nomads to integrate with local life. Regular "calls for creatives" attract international artists to contribute to the village’s long-term growth.

Outcomes

•       Complete brand identity developed

•       Brand guidelines and visual assets created

•       Coliving infrastructure established

•       Artist and creative residencies hosted

•       CME mobility grants attracted

•       International visibility increased

Partners

Asociacion de vecinos de Meaus, Inesto, Culture Moves Europe grantees, International artists and creatives

San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily | 2016-present | Ongoing | Cultural Hub & Event Space

Overview

As Inesto’s operational base in Sicily, Timbuktu Hostel acts as a bridge between international programs and local community life. Since 2016, it has hosted Erasmus+ courses and hundreds of annual events, including social dinners and sporting activities. Reaching over 4,000 participants a year, the hub supports rural regeneration and sustainable tourism through public-private partnerships and youth-focused programming.

Outcomes

•       Formally registered RUNTS sede operativa

•       60+ social dinners annually (2025)

•       30+ cultural events per year

•       44 musical events in 2025

•       4,000+ annual participants (64% aged 18-30)

•       Multiple Erasmus+ training courses hosted

Partners

Comune di San Vito Lo Capo, Local fisherman association, Local church, Marco Peralta (hostel owner), Erasmus+ partner organization

Os Mixtos, Galicia, Spain | 2023 | Completed | Culture Moves Europe Individual Mobility Grant

Overview

Supported by a Culture Moves Europe grant, Paola Balduzzi conducted a residency in Os Mixtos, a border village between Spain and Portugal. The project focused on cultural heritage interventions and placemaking to support a rural coliving and repopulation initiative. This residency provided a foundation for future creative residencies in Sicily and Sardinia, linking individual artistic mobility with local development.

Outcomes

•       Culture Moves Europe mobility grant secured

•       Cultural heritage documentation completed

•       Network development with local associations

•       Contribution to Os Mixtos repopulation project

•       Cross-cultural exchange between Italy and Spain

•       Foundation for future Sicily/Sardinia residencies

Partners

Goethe-Institut, Creative Europe, Asociacion de vecinos de Meaus, Os Mixtos project

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Os Mixtos (Meaus), Galicia, Spain | 2023 | Completed | Culture Moves Europe Individual Mobility Grant

Overview

Photographer Stefano Laddomada used a Culture Moves Europe grant to film a documentary about Couto Mixto, a former micro-state on the Spain-Portugal border. He captured historical testimonies and contemporary stories, including the experience of a Ukrainian refugee family in the village. The residency showcased how art can catalyze community engagement and bring international recognition to overlooked rural areas.

Outcomes

•       Documentary film produced about Couto Mixto

•       Interviews with local community members documented

•       Ukrainian refugee experience captured

•       International documentary festival screenings

•       Cultural heritage of micro-state preserved

•       Cross-border cultural exchange facilitated

Partners

Goethe-Institut, Culture Moves Europe, Asociacion de vecinos de Meaus, Inesto, Os Mixtos repopulation project

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San Marco D’Alunzio, Italy | 2023 | Completed | Visual Art Residency (In Rural We Trust)

OVERVIEW 

23. Visual art residency by Vittorio Ballato, integrated into the "In Rural We Trust" Erasmus+ project in Sicily. The artist documented village transformation and community engagement, creating a visual narrative that bridged international training with local life. This highlights Inesto’s "art-as-facilitation" model, where creative residencies enhance the impact and dissemination of social innovation projects.

OUTCOMES 

• Visual documentation and site-specific art during an Erasmus+ training 

• Public photography exhibition in San Marco D’Alunzio 

• High-quality visual archive for territorial marketing and project dissemination 

• 100+ local residents engaged through participatory art processes 

• Integration of artistic research into social innovation methodologies 

• Visual storytelling assets for international institutional partners

PARTNERS 

Vittorio Ballato (Artist), Municipality of San Marco D’Alunzio, Inesto APS

San Vito Lo Capo, Italy | 2024 | Completed | Music Residency (With Ideas We Grow)

OVERVIEW 

23. A music residency for Roberto Stimoli and Ciauda during the "With Ideas We Grow" project in Sicily. Inesto integrated traditional Mediterranean sound research with non-formal education to enrich intercultural dialogue. This project showcases our ability to bridge intangible heritage with modern social entrepreneurship, supporting local creative economies through professional artistic residencies.

OUTCOMES 

• Music residency integrated into an Erasmus+ training program 

• Series of participatory workshops on Mediterranean musical heritage 

• Live performances reaching international youth and local community 

• Research into the connection between traditional sound and social cohesion 

• High-quality audio-visual documentation of cultural performances 

• Sustainable model for integrating local artists into international mobilities

PARTNERS 

Roberto Stimoli & Ciauda (Musicians), Timbuktu Hostel, Inesto APS

Ciminna, Palermo, Sicily  |  2022-2026  |  Ongoing  |  PNRR M1C3 - Territorial Regeneration

OVERVIEW

€1.6M rural development initiative in Palermo province's historic village. Inesto implements cultural activation strategies combining digital nomad infrastructure, artisan workshops, and community engagement programs. Project bridges tradition and innovation through participatory heritage preservation.

OUTCOMES

• Digital nomad and artist residency program established

• Cultural heritage digitalization and 3D video mapping

• Service center for event management and community cooperatives

• Territorial marketing and promotion strategy

• Il Gattopardo literary heritage valorization (film location)

PARTNERS

Comune di Ciminna, Regione Sicilia, Ministero della Cultura, FACITUR, Logos Società Cooperativa, BCSicilia, ADF Associazione Donne Fotografe, Dance Works, Digital Sound, Pieggi 2.0

Alcara Li Fusi & San Marco D'Alunzio, Messina, Sicily  |  2022-2025  |  Ongoing  |  PNRR M1C3 - Territorial Regeneration

OVERVIEW

€2.08M PNRR-funded rural regeneration in Sicily's Nebrodi Mountains. Inesto manages cultural programming, artist residencies, and sustainable tourism strategies. Project transforms historic village into creative hub connecting remote workers, artists, and local communities through participatory placemaking methodologies.

OUTCOMES

• Inter-municipal cultural trail rehabilitation (historic trazzera)

• Remote Experience and Art Residency hub

• Community cooperative for sustainable tourism management

• Cultural digitalization of both villages

• Youth and women micro-enterprise incubation

• Valorization of traditional textile crafts (Pezzare, historic looms)

PARTNERS

Comune di Alcara Li Fusi, Comune di San Marco D'Alunzio, Parco dei Nebrodi, GAL Nebrodi Plus, Rete Nebrodi Ospitalità Diffusa, Rete Città Marciane

Alcara Li Fusi & San Marco D'Alunzio, Messina, Sicily  |  2022-2025  |  Ongoing  |  PNRR M1C3 - Territorial Regeneration

OVERVIEW

€2.08M territorial regeneration project in Norman heritage village overlooking Sicily's Tyrrhenian coast. Inesto develops cultural infrastructure, co-living spaces, and international residency programs. Focus on heritage valorization through contemporary art interventions and sustainable cultural tourism.

OUTCOMES

• Inter-municipal cultural trail rehabilitation (historic trazzera)

• Remote Experience and Art Residency hub

• Community cooperative for sustainable tourism management

• Cultural digitalization of both villages

• Youth and women micro-enterprise incubation

• Valorization of traditional textile crafts (Pezzare, historic looms)

PARTNERS

Comune di Alcara Li Fusi, Comune di San Marco D'Alunzio, Parco dei Nebrodi, GAL Nebrodi Plus, Rete Nebrodi Ospitalità Diffusa, Rete Città Marciane