Rural Labs is a pilot project by Cáceres 2031 that connects rural Extremadura with European and international artists through artistic residencies rooted in the territory, which will take place between July and November 2026.
The project is part of the programme presented by the Consorcio Cáceres Capital Europea de la Cultura 2031 and is integrated into the strategy for implementing cultural rights and the policy framework of the European Capitals of Culture. It is also connected to the Cáceres Cultural Strategy (ECC), extending its scope across the region and generating new relationships between contemporary creation, rural communities, European cooperation, and sustainability.
After receiving more than fifteen proposals from local host sites, an international committee of experts selected three residency spaces for 2026: Mudarte, led by the Asociación Mudarte Laboratorio de Formación y Creación Escénica; La Sindicalista Estudio Cáceres, a space dedicated to contemporary visual arts; and Ras de Terra, a cultural project connected to the natural and rural environment.
At these host sites, the selected artists will develop projects in dialogue with rural communities, with a focus on exchange, sustainability, and the activation of European connections from the territory of Extremadura.
Rural Labs materialises the essence of Transcultura through artistic residencies that connect the Cáceres 2031 candidacy with the rural territories of Extremadura. The project aims to become a networked programme that contributes to strengthening the artistic and cultural sector and generates useful learning for other rural territories across Europe.
The residencies will offer selected participants accommodation, meals, workspace, production support, and curatorial and community guidance. Each artist will also receive a stipend of 800 EUR per residency, production support (up to 400 EUR) and funding for international travel (23–610 EUR). There is additional support for green travel.
