Bergamo hosted the Consortium Meeting of the European project THRIVE – Rural Intangible Heritage and Value Empowerment, confirming its role as a key place for discussion and strategic planning for the future of the project. The meeting represented a crucial moment to assess progress and define future activities, bringing together international partners from four European countries and the group of young talents involved in the empowerment programme.

The meeting took place on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, in the institutional setting of the Province of Bergamo and marked the project’s mid-term milestone. It provided a structured opportunity to share the results achieved so far, evaluate the work carried out to date, and build a shared vision for the next operational phases.

Representatives of the project partnership attended the working session, including two public authorities – the Province of Bergamo (Italy) and the Municipality of Fundão (Portugal) – the scientific partner University of Valencia (Spain), and two organisations specialising in ICT and digital innovation, ARCTUR (Slovenia) and Enter Koprivnica (Croatia).

Throughout the day, partners analysed the progress of project actions, exchanging views on methodological aspects, expected impacts, and communication and dissemination strategies. The shared objective is to strengthen the project’s visibility and expand the engagement of new audiences, ranging from young professionals in the cultural sector to policy makers and local communities.

The Bergamo meeting also marked the transition from the analysis phase to the implementation phase. Among the short-term results, the publication of the territorial marketing strategy and the mapping of intangible cultural heritage is expected soon. These tools will be fundamental in guiding future actions for valorisation and local development.

Following steps

In the coming months, the project will move into its most active phase with a calendar of operational activities. In spring, an intensive week of workshops dedicated to the digitalisation of intangible cultural heritage is planned, along with a bootcamp focused on the development of entrepreneurial ideas. The aim is to transform cultural heritage into new economic and employment opportunities for rural areas.

At the same time, between February and April, the capacity-building programme for young talents will continue. They will be involved in both theoretical and practical activities aimed at the safeguarding, innovation, and transmission of intangible cultural heritage. Young people represent a strategic component of the project, called upon to contribute to the development of new business models and to strengthen the link between innovation, territory, and local traditions.

With the Consortium Meeting in Bergamo, THRIVE consolidates the work carried out so far and clearly defines the next steps of the project, reinforcing the role of intangible cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development for Europe’s rural territories.

To stay up to date on all initiatives and upcoming activities, visit the dedicated page:
https://www.thrive-cultural-heritage.eu/

What is THRIVE?

THRIVE is a European project that places intangible cultural heritage at the centre as a lever for the sustainable development of rural areas. By bringing together territories, institutions, experts, and young talents, the project promotes innovation, training, and international cooperation to transform local traditions into new cultural, social, and economic opportunities.