Terra Vivente operates on the belief that art should be brought to communities, that it should be interactive and engaging to artists and to members of communities who don’t have easy access to the conventional galleries and museums of large urban centres. Many small communities in Italy are semi-abandoned as youth migrate towards cities for education and work. Rejuvenating the smaller villages takes place when there is a strong enough pull for youth to stay or return. Cultural projects are an important step. Terra Vivente creates programming that brings international artists into these small communities, organizing interactive events, projects and exhibitions that are ultimately a cultural exchange. Because the venues are off the tourist route, artists have an immersive experience, learning about the language, food and cultural traditions in a natural way because these are lived experiences, not put on as tourist attractions. Working with the local town hall and organizations, Terra Vivente offers loosely thematic residencies based on salient features of the locality, whether it be cheese, paleontology, archaeology or locally sourced materials. Preference is given to artists who have a social practice, work with sustainable materials or food, or have a strong interest in collaboration or research. Emerging and established artists  working in 2 and 3D media, performance, video, photography and sound are all welcome.