The purpose of this thesis was to organize socioculturally animated activity in four villages in Kanta-Häme and to create a new model based on the goals of Taidetta kylille! project in order to enhance resident-oriented cultural activities in the villages. Methods of service design were used in creating the model. The head-coordinator of Taidetta kylille! -project is the Degree Programme in Crafts and Recreation at Häme University of Applied Sciences and the collaborators are Hämeen Kylät ry and Hämeenlinna Art Museum.

The main goal was to examine what kind of model could be created to support cultural activities in villages. The goals were to examine how sociocultural animation sustains art-based workshops and how the service design process can be utilized while designing new service. Research methods used were participant and structured observation of workshops, observation diary, inquiry, interviews and analysis of all above mentioned. The thesis process included six art workshops, three co-designing workshops and two co-designing work-shops for the village contact persons.

The result of the thesis is Elokylä idea booklet for supporting cultural activities in villages. The conclusion of the study was that sociocultural animation lead to a sense of community and participation, which sustained the goals of the workshops. This was apparent in the amount of interaction and conversation about common issues concerning the villages and future plans. The study also proved that utilising the service design process enabled the creation of new services in a client-centered way and helped to manage the wide project. The thesis substantiates the meaning and importance that the villages and their communities have for the residents and their identity and it proves that art-based methods are suitable for making these stories visible.