WHEN: 30.10. – 03.11.2025

 WHERE:  Perdaxius and South Sardinia, Italy

 FOCUS: connecting temporary art with tradition

Summary of the programme

Our exchange programme aims to share adaptable, co-creative methodologies for engaging diverse local stakeholders, while fostering meaningful connections between tradition and contemporary artistic practice. Through participatory workshops, site visits, networking, hands-on learning, and guided observation, we seek to inspire sustainable strategies for cultural regeneration and to build a supportive international network of peers committed to inclusive, place-based cultural development. In this process we also want to involve the invited person by stimulating her in an exchange of ideas, practices, with more people, both local and external who have already collaborated with the association.

Activities will include:

• Guided site visits to key community artworks and public spaces in  the town of Perdaxius
• Workshop in collaboration with the Elda Mazzocchi Scarzella association, showcasing the methodologies used to involve local communities
• Visits to the city of Carbonia, the Coal Museum, the great Serbariu mine, and the”fabbrica del Cinema”
• Reflection session on participatory methodologies, community engagement and new technologies. Visit to the park of the project "I giardini possibili", the headquarters of the Elda Mazzocchi Scarzella association, and the cave of San Giovanni
• Presentation and round table on Cherimus’s international collaborations

Exchange period: 

The peer exchange with Associazione Cherimus ODV will take place between 30 October – 03 November 2025.

Description of the organisation

Cherimus is an artist-run organisation based in Perdaxius, a small town in the Sulcis-Iglesiente region of Sardinia. Since 2007, their mission has been to bring contemporary art into active dialogue with local communities, fostering shared cultural production that challenges marginalization and connects peripheral places with global narratives. Central to their philosophy is the conviction that art should be created with communities, not merely for them. This co-creative approach ensures that residents are active protagonists in the creative process, empowering them to shape cultural expressions that resonate with their identities and experiences.

Cherimus 

What makes Cherimus an Ambassador of Good Practice?

Cherimus plays a key role in regenerating the Sulcis-Iglesiente region through long-term, community-led cultural projects that transform public spaces, promote intergenerational exchange, and embed art in everyday rural life. Through initiatives like Caro Giacomo and I Giardini Possibili, they co-create with residents, especially youth, to merge contemporary art with local traditions, foster sustainability, and strengthen cultural identity. Their adaptable model - centred on long-term relationships, co-creation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, mobility and cultural exchange, and creative use of local space - offers a replicable approach to inclusive, culturally rooted regeneration in marginalised areas.

What does Cherimus hope to gain from the P2P exchange?

“Cherimus places community participation and territorial cohesion at the core of its methodology, while actively seeking new ways to integrate cultural action into broader frameworks for innovation, inclusion and transformation. We are particularly interested in the potential of artistic practice to act as a catalyst for innovation: we bring over a decade of experience in using participatory artistic practices to activate local knowledge, stimulate social cohesion, and valorise cultural heritage in under-resourced areas. Our long-term presence in Sulcis-Iglesiente has shown how artistic engagement can empower communities—especially when working alongside schools, researchers, municipalities, NGOs, and small enterprises. However, we are aware that cultural transformation alone is not enough. To broaden the scope and sustainability of our impact, we must build stronger, long-term alliances to consolidate a European cultural network.”

Facilities for the Visitor

• Welcoming and well-equipped venue in Perdaxius with dedicated spaces for creative work, presentations, and collaboration
• Facilities include a small library, a garden for public activities, and a final community gathering and presentation
• Support provided includes materials and locally sourced catering throughout the exchange
• Technical resources available: high-speed internet, audio-visual equipment, and digital tools for both traditional and innovative artistic practices
• Full logistical and technical support provided by Cherimus staff for smooth implementation of all activities. Additional assistance includes setup of multimedia equipment, translation support when needed, and coordination of site visits and stakeholder meetings

Apply here