We explored this through the programmes of this year’s TeatRom Festival and the project’s closing conference, which marked an important milestone in the three-year SPARSE Plus project. Both the personal experiences of project manager Annamária Jacsó and the insights of community development expert Márton Beke demonstrate that the power of culture extends far beyond the performances themselves.
sparseplus
Meet us at the 35th Valley of Arts Festival!
If you’d like to try unique workshops, join inspiring conversations, or simply explore how art can meet nature, technology, and community experiences, visit the Pro Progressione Tent at the 35th Valley of Arts, on Kapolcs Main Square, between 28 July and 1 August.
New European Report Reveals How Public Funding Reaches Rural Performing Arts
A new European study, Public Funding for the Performing Arts in European Rural Areas, commissioned by the SPARSE Plus project co-funded by Creative Europe, reveals a persistent territorial imbalance in cultural funding, with predominantly urban areas capturing the largest share of recorded support while rural territories remain consistently under-represented.
European cultural professionals gather in Miskolc to celebrate the future of rural performing arts
More than 100 artists, researchers, cultural organisers and policymakers from across Europe will gather in Miskolc between 23–27 September 2026 for the SPARSE Plus Celebrating Conference, the closing event of the international Creative Europe project SPARSE Plus – Supporting and Promoting Arts in Rural Settlements of Europe Plus.
Learning from Each Other: A Job-Shadowing Journey with Sparse PLUS
Over the weekend, the artistic director of Utcaszínházi Alkotóközösség Association, Balázs Simon, and three promoters of the Sparse PLUS project — Norbert Káló (Szendrőlád), Julianna Budai (Borsodbóta), and Éva Gulyásné (Sajókaza) — visited Cluj-Napoca and Cehu Silvaniei for an inspiring job-shadowing visit.
Lights On Rural Touring – Final Conference of the SPARSE Plus Project
Are you working in the performing arts or cultural sector?
Are you interested in how high-quality performing arts can reach rural and geographically remote communities?
Would you like to learn about inspiring rural touring practices and cultural cooperation models from across Europe?
Then the SPARSE Plus Celebrating Conference is for you!
The TeatRom Festival 2025 continues with site visits
The Utcaszínházi Alkotóközösség, the organization behind the TeatRom Festival, has been working for over fifteen years to provide space and visibility for Roma children in the Cserehát region, one of Northern Hungary’s most beautiful yet economically challenged areas. Building on long-standing professional and personal relationships, the SPARSE+ project will be implemented in five municipalities between 2024 and 2026, continuing the work that began with the launch of the TeatRom Festival in 2020.
OPEN CALL: OPEN MIC at SPARSE Plus Symposium 2025
Got something to say about rural arts in Europe? Say it loud in Prague!
Promoters Gear Up for Professional Growth
In the heart of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, nestled in the northeastern region of Hungary, a transformative initiative is underway. In the ambitious endeavor of the Sparse Plus project, promoters have commenced their collaborative journey following a meticulous selection process. These promoters were chosen not only for their skills and abalities but also for their deep understanding of rural cultural sectors and their commitment to the vision and values of the Sparse Plus project.
Weaving the first threads of the SPARSE Plus Rural Touring Tapestry: Kick Off Meeting in Marche, Italy October 2-6
Between October 2-6, all the partners of the SPARSE Plus Project and their local promoters travelled by train, plane, bus, and car from all corners of Europe to converge in the charming little village of Ascoli Piceno in Marche, Italy, which set the scene for us to collectively kickoff the exciting 4-year journey that lies ahead of us! Coming all the way from Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Hungary, and other parts of Italy, we got the chance finally meet each other in the physical world and build bonds that will come to form the cornerstone of this remarkable project!