Research project Small rural villages in Sweden, Austria, and Australia have potential for fostering social cohesion and inclusion—despite challenges related to depopulation and the closure of services. Inspired by a “social festivals” methodology, the project engages residents in creating social meeting places and networks that meet the needs of local populations, thus strengthening community ties and future development prospects.
Focusing on social infrastructure in small villages of sparsely populated areas, researchers explore how communal meeting spaces can be developed to foster inclusion and social sustainability, particularly for vulnerable groups. Through co-creative festivals, new social infrastructure solutions are tested to enhance the villages’ ability to shape their own futures and counteract social exclusion. The project also offers ideas and practical tools for other villages to cultivate vibrant and equitable communities.
Social infrastructure—places and networks where people meet, talk, and build community—has declined in many small villages across Sweden, Austria, and Australia. Shops, schools, and meeting spaces have closed, making it increasingly difficult for both new and long-term residents to interact and participate in collective communities. Vulnerable groups, such as older people, families with children, youth, immigrants and individuals with disabilities are particularly at risk of exclusion.
This project aims to change that narrative. It adopts an alternative approach towards social infrastructure as comprising not just physical meeting spaces but also mobile, temporary and technological platforms to connect people. Through ethnographic methods—including diaries, interviews, and guided village walks—the researchers gain a deeper understanding of where and how social interactions occur and what processes foster inclusion in sparsely populated areas. Drawing inspiration from “social festivals,” it invites residents to share their experiences, needs, and ideas to develop new or strengthen existing meeting places.
The project includes case study villages from all three countries, creating opportunities for residents to learn from one another. The goal is not only to understand social infrastructure dynamics from a theoretical perspective but also to contribute to genuine change through tangible projects and co-creation. The outcomes will empower villages to shape their own futures and serve as a catalyst for more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant local communities.
