Marginal rural areas are facing a hard challenge – to perish or to enter the new economy. They are not ready for this big step forward: low level of technical infrastructure, weakness of development capitals and a low level of creative class. Using the example of polish marginal villages it can be clearly seen, that the situation is getting worse with the escape of young and creative people and high unemployment rate. It’s accompanied by a low understanding of creative economy rules among politicians and entrepreneurs, both on local and national level. They are searching for solutions from the past, suited for the time of agriculture and industry.

To still exist and develop, villages have to enter into a creative economy stream. How is it to be accomplished with the low level of creative class and other barriers? That question was a starting point for a social experiment, started in year 2000 by Socio – Cultural Association of Koszalin. The aim of this experiment is to create a creative cluster, containing 5 villages located in Pomerania Region, Poland. These villages are characterized by high unemployment rate and low levels of cultural heritage. This is partially a result of World War II, as forced migration of people disrupted the cultural transmission.

The Cluster is in the early phase of creation. In it’s frame there were founded bases of specialization in 5 villages:

• The Hobbits,
• Fairy tales and Bicycles, 
• Labyrinths and Springs, 
• Healthy Lifestyle and 
• The End of World.
  

Currently activities are focused on creating new workplaces and earning sources around specialization of single villages and connections between them. The Cluster is aimed also to be a place of propagating creative economy, promoting play and creativity, but also researching on creative economy. Cluster already attracts artists and students. Villages are also being prepared to function as educating villages.