Mötesplats Steneby

Mötesplats Steneby is a platform for culture-driven societal development based in Dals Långed, a small village in rural western Sweden. We work to strengthen the role of art, design, and crafts in building sustainable futures — socially, environmentally, and economically.

Mötesplats Steneby is a platform for culture-driven societal development based in Dals Långed, a small village in rural western Sweden. We work to strengthen the role of art, design, and crafts in building sustainable futures — socially, environmentally, and economically. Mötesplats Steneby collaborate across sectors: linking higher education, local government, civil society, and small businesses. Our initiatives span place-based innovation, circular design, community engagement, and support for the material-based creative industries.

A central part of our current work is the transformation of Långedsverken, a former paper mill in Dals Långed, into a vibrant and inclusive center for art, design, crafts, entrepreneurship, and rural development. The site already houses creative infrastructure and pilot initiatives, including a workshop focused on sustainable transformation of the furniture and interior industry, and is being developed into a hub for long-term regional transition.

At the heart of our mission is a belief in the power of culture and making to enable systemic change. By supporting creative practitioners, strengthening local value chains, and experimenting with new rural models, we aim to build resilient and thriving communities.

Our work spans five interconnected areas: cultural community development, creative production, infrastructure for the arts, education and research collaboration, and support for entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors. Together, these fields form a dynamic ecosystem where people, ideas, and resources circulate.

We believe that rural places can lead the way in sustainable transformation; when culture is integrated with social, economic, and ecological dimensions. By combining physical infrastructure (like workshops and shared spaces) with social infrastructure (like networks and knowledge exchange), we create lasting conditions for creatives to live, work, and grow in Dalsland.