ECHN Workshop

ECHN Workshops

The ECHN Workshops are an initiative promoted by the European Creative Hubs Network to empower smaller creative hubs and to make use of their expertise for the broad ECHN community. Every year, the ECHN members nominate a workshop proposal that takes place in the chosen creative hub with the support of ECHN and is co-funded by the European Commission. The ECHN Workshops put the spotlight on smaller or peripheral creative hubs in order to identify hidden basins of innovative practices and accelerate the sharing of knowledge among the members of the ECHN network and beyond.

What is Rural Hacking Workshop?

Rural hacking is a pop-up coliving experience to exchange ideas, perspectives, and possibilities about how to revitalize rural areas through creative hubs.

It was a free-of-charge workshop, held from March 24th to 29th, 2023 in Anceu Coliving, a rural space in the North of Spain. Life outside the hustle and bustle of a city gave us the chance to disconnect and connect with the participants.

We were looking for 15 people interested in building hubs with a positive impact on rural areas and excited to be part of the rural hacking movement.

We will have the opportunity to imagine together.

Our aim was to leave an inspiring footprint on the participants, through the topics we worked on:

Becoming a Changemaker Hub

How to Create economic, social, and environmental impact to make your community proud to be part of your hub.

Ideas to create Local and International Alliances

How to forge networks with interesting people to create opportunities so that your community can feel inspired by serendipity.

Reinforcing Rural Urban bridges

We will open debates to bring awareness of how important it is for rural areas to create sustainable connections with urban areas.

Rethinking Community building

How to set up dynamics to strengthen the relationships between hub members in order to cover their needs of connection and belonging.

Strengthening the ECHN network

We will work to build relationships among the members of the ECHN and make the network known to those who are not yet part of it.

Building our Long Term Collaboration

It is a short-term experience of learning but also of joy, and enjoyment to build our future long-lasting relationships.  

Join the rural hacking movement in Anceu

Rural hacking workshop is an experience in nature, in Anceu coliving.

Under the slogan “Think globally, act locally, revive rural”, Anceu Coliving has been around since July 2020. We do our best to give back to Anceu’s village and the community that surrounds us.

Mural paint of an old water deposit. Anceu, August 2022

Rural revival project in Ponte Caldelas town

We revitalize rural areas, replicate our ideas

We are happy to share in depth the projects we are proud of. We would love you to replicate them, the more the better.

• Rural hackers. Anceu provides a platform for local and international people to learn and experiment with technology, arts, culture, and creativity.
• Circular actions. Biodiversity actions in the area where we help our rivers, forests, and the local ecosystem.
• Rural revival. The project focuses on working for the revitalization of rural areas through photography.
• Rural makers. Using technology to develop simple solutions in rural communities.

Cooperating through Rural Hacking Labs

We want to build long-term alliances with creative hubs throughout Europe.

After the workshop, we planned to develop Rural Hacking Labs to share good practices: monthly online sessions where participants pick up skills they can easily put into practice. 

Members of Anceu Coliving, Sende, Dinamo 10 and WOW. Galicia, 2021.

What is included in the Rural Hacking Workshop?

This is all you get for free in this experience. Take into account that transportation to arrive at Anceu village is not included.

Coliving staying where sharing is caring

You will sleep at Anceu coliving space in a shared room, or in a private one if we have availability. In case a shared room is not an option, please let us know.

Local food to make your ideas grow

During the coliving experience, you will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. We will have local cuisine and spaces for intercultural gastronomy.

Workshops to activate your curiosity

We are inspired by hacker culture. The training will be practical and flowing. We will use non-formal learning methodologies, where we will learn by doing and sharing. Also, we will create open-source materials.

Local Visits to Strength your serendipity

We will discover local projects related to culture, nature, and gastronomy to activate your curiosity. Also, we will visit ECHN members like Espacio Arroelo in Pontevedra and Dinamo 10 in Portugal.

Some logistics

It’s all about the little details

Enjoy a restful stay full of comfort in Anceu. It’s spacious, full of fresh air, and brimming with the Spanish sun.

The entire space has been designed by our project At Home.

Coliving

• Bed linens and towels
• Toiletries
• Washer and dryer
• Free room cleaning

Coworking spaces

• High-speed 1000mbps fiber optic Internet
• Comfortable desks and chairs
• 24/7 workspace access
• Call rooms (x2)

Common Spaces

• Indoor and outdoor dining
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Free Parking
• Seasonal swimming pool

Timeline

Meet the Rural Hacking team

África

Making things happen

Pepe

Slow mode member

Agus

Rural Hacker

Pandora

Royal Dogmunity Builder

Rosa

Cozy Home Manager

Andreea

Smiles manager

Amador

Gardening Assistant

Nacho

Flow Master

Liño

Indiana Jones

Se

Artista de la pista

Rural hacking is funded by the European Union

Rural hacking is possible because of our alliances

See also: The local impact it led to