Ella Overkleeft is concept developer, curator and consultant. Born and raised in the city, but always with a rural dream: a space in nature where art, science, and spirituality meet in a new economy. With a background in Social Sciences and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Ella has worked with social innovation in various locations across Europe in the field of policymaking, urban planning and events. She is the co-founder of The Night Mayor Foundation in Amsterdam and recently left her job at The European Network of Independent Cultural Centres: Trans Europe Halles to launch the cultural enterprise Rural Radicals. Ella has a holistic view to foresee societal trends and craft creative solutions. ‘Inspiration brings the responsibility to create’ is her credo.

Mieke Renders is a renowned Rural Radical who draws from a wealth of experience in physical anthropology and arts management. She held various positions, such as curator, project manager, General Manager of the Flemish Cultural Center ‘De Brakke Grond’ in Amsterdam, and cultural attaché for Flanders House in New York. Together with her sister, Mieke now runs the Not Quite Café Bistro in the Swedish countryside, in a repurposed Old Paper Mill in Fengersfors. At the café, she creates new concepts that fuse food, innovation, and circular economy. Networking is her forte, which she developed further as the Managing Director of the European network of independent cultural centers: Trans Europe Halles. Mieke is a fervent advocate of the independence of cultural operators, and works to help them network and self-organize to maximize their impact.

Specialized in co-creation and multilevel governance policies to facilitate sustainability transitions, Andrea is a PhD candidate in Economic Geography at Gran Sasso Science Institute. Based in L’Aquila, Italy, he works with “inner areas” municipalities to fight against depopulation through youth engagement and socio-cultural initiatives. Additionally, Andrea is the Research Coordinator of TWM Factory, a Rome-based studio that supports young professionals in the Cultural and Creative Industry. His transdisciplinary background allows him to carry out knowledge management and curatorial research activities, particularly focusing on queer artistic expressions and bottom-up/culture-led urban regeneration practices in Rome.

Giulia is a content writer, web editor and community builder who has been previously working with culture-led entrepreneurial spaces, non-formal education, as well communication strategy and brand management. With a personal drive towards grassroots cultural centers, she took part in the development of several creative spaces based in repurposed buildings across Italy, Central Europe and Scandinavia in collaboration with local NGOs – venturing as well to non-urban contexts. Originally from Italy, Giulia has a background in Literature and she is currently studying a Master’s degree in ‘Cultural Encounters and Communication’ at Roskilde University, Denmark; she is interested in mobilities paradigms, the human drivers behind the ecological transition and culture-led rural development.

Dimitris Manoukas is a cultural and community manager and social researcher. He has always been fascinated by storytelling, which is why he studied Comparative Literature and Cultural Theory. Hoping to see his favorite stories turn into reality, he moved from humanities to social sciences by pursuing a master’s degree in Cultural Management and Communication. Having experienced the educational and cultural sectors in London and in Athens he discovered that a creative hub is the best way to blend multiple narratives together and unlock their empowering dynamics. He has worked as a community manager and digital branding consultant and has written about art, pop culture, communities, and queerness. Feeling old enough, he decided to start a PhD on sustainable youth employment and engagement policies in peripheral areas, instigated by hubs and coworking spaces. He remains a listener of stories at heart and loves to dive into the unimaginable depths of the web.