European partnership for the development of skills and social inclusion through creativity and arts

European partnership for the development of skills and social inclusion through creativity and arts

Background
The project was a response to the deteriorating social and educational situation of people with disabilities and socially excluded people during the pandemic.
• Strengthening the role of art in work with excluded people: The project promoted art as a tool that opens access to emotions, needs and fears. Especially in the context of the pandemic, where access to culture and art was difficult, the project counteracted the effects of emotional and psychological difficulties through active participation in various forms of art.
• Problems of marginalized groups: Through artistic and educational activities, the project supported these groups in improving key competences, while counteracting their social exclusion.
• Professional development of educators: The project trained educators in art therapy used in groups at risk of exclusion.
• Development of international cooperation: The international nature of the project allowed for the exchange of experiences and practices between organizations specializing in working with specific groups at risk of exclusion.

Objectives
The partnership established the following goals for the project:
• reduce social exclusion and develop key competences of people at risk of marginalization by using culture and art
• increase accessibility to culture and art for people at risk of social exclusion
• cooperation and exchange of experiences between educators from partner institutions working with people at risk of exclusion
• improve the professional competences of educators from partner institutions working with people at risk of exclusion in the field of art and social therapy
• development of international cooperation between theatres and educational institutions in using theatre techniques as a tool for education and social inclusion

Implementation
The following activities were undertaken in the project:
- 6 international partner meetings were organized, as part of which 48 mobilities took place
- 5 international learning activities were organized in which each partner presented the methods and techniques they use to work with people with disabilities/at risk of exclusion as part of which 105 mobilities took place
- partners organized local activities with the participation of disabled/disadvantaged people, in which they used methods and techniques learned during learning activities
- the project website was developed
- the project and its results were disseminated in 6 EU countries.

Results
As a result of the project implementation, the following results were achieved:
- the qualifications in the field of cultural and artistic work of educators/trainers working with people with special needs and socially excluded who participated in the LTT activities improved by 50%.
-61 educators of people at risk of exclusion, including 9 disabled people, participated in international LTT training
-each partner institution expanded its educational offer for visually and/or hearing impaired people with new methods learned during the project
-the partnership has developed the publication "Selected activities, methods and exercises on development of skills and social inclusion through creativity and arts", presenting the methods and techniques of working with disabled people learned during LTT
--a project website was developed https://www.euperasmus.com/.

The Partners:

Miejska Strefa Kultury w Łodzi, poland - Coordinator

ARBOS - Gesellschaft für Musik und Theater, Austria
Instytut Tolerancji w Łodzi, Poland
Nalagaat, Israel
Norrköpings stadsmuseum, Sweden
Possible World e.V., Germany
vzw Theater van A tot Z, Belgium