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Art over Problems
Start date: Aug 1, 2016, End date: Jan 31, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

In the context of large inflows of refugees, European societies are currently experiencing a crisis of values, especially in relation to intolerance to other cultures, religious discrimination and inhumane actions towards people simply looking for a safer place to live in. Naturally, when a person feels safe and respected, he/she can then effectively work for the common benefit. Therefore it is necessary to address the integration of ethnic minorities and refugees. We believe that it is best to do so through social art and will host a project “Art over Problems” (AOP) in Lithuania. The project aims to educate both youth workers and youth and will consist of two actions: youth workers mobility (3-9, 09, 2016) and a youth exchange (8-14, 10, 2016). The project is implemented by organizations from countries where ignorance towards and exclusion of different cultures/ethnicities are especially acute, and where social art is not a common thing (Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy), as well as countries with long history and better record on that (Spain, Turkey). In the 1st action there will be 24 youth workers involved (4 / country)/; while the 2nd action will have 36 participants (5 youngsters aged 18-30, 1 youth worker from the 1st action / country). Priority will be given to those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with fewer opportunities. A group of trainers, and various guest speakers will coordinate all the activities so that everything would go smoothly.By providing youth and youth workers with new skills/tools for solving social problems by using visual arts, we would like to contribute to reducing intolerance and discrimination towards refugees and other minorities. With this in mind, the following objectives were set: 1) strengthen youth workers knowledge of the significance of visual arts and the way to use them to influence particular social issues, such as integration of refugees, as well as religious and ethnic discrimination; (2) provide them with means to share this knowledge with youth; (3) test the applicability of these methods in a youth exchange, as well as encourage youth to take on more social art initiatives; and (4) generate fresh ideas for future projects and activities that would use visual arts for reaching social aims within the local communities in the participating countries. The project also aims to help the participants grow professionally, keep them active, involve them in multi-cultural discussions, develop a number of skills and competences and create new partnerships across Europe. In order to achieve these objectives, a range of NFE methods developed by all the partner organisations will be employed. The main activities will identify the benefits of social arts, reveal best tools for their delivery, generate non-formal education methods to share the knowledge, and create the means of spreading information about the idea to the public. Involvement, creativity and initiative of all the participants will be encouraged throughout the activities, which will include: 1) interactive workshops on the usage of visual arts for social aims, 2) meeting social artists and project managers, 3) visits to refugee center, Ministry of Culture, and contemporary art exhibitions, 4) creation and implementation of social art initiatives, and photography exhibitions, 5) country workshops on social art; 6) generation of new NFE methods & tools, and much more. Since the project goal is to reach the public and disseminate the results effectively: 7) motivational social art photos & videos, 8) guidebook with tips for social art, 9) social art initiatives after mobilities; and 10) an online platform for social art exhibitions online will be prepared by the participants. All of this will ensure that the project would induce a positive effect on the participants, organisations and make an impact at the regional, national and international levels. Main target groups of the project are socially-responsible youth and youth workers across Europe. The former will be reached during the actions’ activities (social art expositions and initiatives in the city), as well as in events after the mobilities. While the latter will be reached through dissemination of results online and with the help of the prepared social art guidebook. This will make all of them more aware of the acute social problems in Europe and the ways to use social art to tackle them. The target groups could deliver the project's message even further by: e.g. starting/joining related social initiatives (youth); or passing on the gained knowledge through newly developed non-formal education (youth workers).Finally, "Art over Problems" is anticipated to impact the society in general. Promoted use of social art would mostly contribute to the change. By increasing the scale and the scope of such initiatives, social problems such as discrimination towards refugees could get the right visibility and be diminished to an extent.
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