ART BEYOND GAZE (ABeyGA) CONTEXT/BACKGROUND Art creation allows the individuals to fulfill themselves, to express their deepest feelings, and to eliminate the intensity of everyday life. It is considered to be the tool for communication and verbal and/or non-verbal expression of intimate feelings in an alternative way. Art creations, in different forms (such as painting, sculpture, music, etc) can also serve therapeutic purposes especially for young learners with Special Educational Needs and Difficulties (SEND). In our digital era, art can be supported by many innovative methods, tools and practices which can offer the chance for a better social inclusion for young learners. Art technology offers a unique opportunity to tackle discrimination through its globalization and accessibility to all individuals. The peculiar circumstances created by COVID 19 highlight the importance of digital art creation as a means of communication and expression, given that during the pandemic the distance between individuals is imposed; art functions as a bridge which unites people and nations world-wide. AIM/OBJECTIVES In the above frame, the general aim of ABeyGA project is to approach art creations in an alternative way with the total involvement of senses within art workshops and cultural environments in general (e.g. museums, cultural centers etc) and to support young learners especially with SEND, so they can be successfully included in their school and social environment through art education. More specifically, this program aims to design, implement and evaluate alternative innovative activities (through digital, multi-sensory and interactive methods in approaching art), and exchange the good transnational practices/activities between the partners. Also: - to develop a holistic global conception of art using all sensations (look but also touch, hearing, smell) - to adopt a multicultural approach of artworks opened to new worldviews (different perception of colors, sounds, art materials depending on the country of origin) - to engage the young people in the reproduction of known art works using digital or/and natural materials from the regions/countries involved - to support young people especially with SEND to be involved in communication by and for young people BENEFICIARIES The beneficiaries of the project are mostly young learners with SEND and vulnerable young people in general, youth workers, educators and social work organizations, but also families, other young people, schools, colleges, high schools and universities. INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS/ACTIVITIES The project's Intellectual Outputs are a “Train the trainer” art Guidebook that will be made by PDETh organization (GREECE) for art teachers and youth trainers that focuses on how to organize art activities in schools and non-formal art & youth organizations. Also, a "Digital Game for Young Learners" made by COAT (ITALY) related to the production of artistic material (3D animation and games) by using high-tech technology in order for the art creation to be more comprehensible and accessible to the young people, especially with SEND. Moreover, "Evaluating Videos" made by BLUE ROOM (ITALY) to assess the workshops' products and practices through videos. Last but not least, a "Digital Art Folder" made by OPENUP (GREECE), as a digital library for the digitized artistic material - work (images, sound, text) created in the art and digital workshops. The ABeyGA project also includes training activities which are the "Digital Training Activities" realized by COAT and the "Art Workshops" realized by the Escola d'Art d'Olot. Additionally, the "Local Workshops -Trainings" activities will involve local cultural centers, galleries, schools special and not, vet schools, public bodies to spread the above mentioned innovative practices and the knowledge acquired to the youth workers and the young people, so they can be implemented. For the accomplishment of the IOs, five consortium meetings will be organized throughout the project every 5 months with the involvement of two participants from each partner. The kick-off meeting will take place in Larissa, Greece, the second one in Trevi, Italy (Digital Training), the third meeting in Barcelona, Spain (art workshops), the fourth one in Lyon, France (discussion about the Pilot Art Workshops) and the final project meeting in Athens, Greece, (assess the overall project cycle and analyze the main success\shortcomings). RESULTS The expected results connected to the IOs and activities are related to the personal and professional development of the trainers so as to respond more efficiently to the demands of their social role, as parents, teachers, professionals. As for the young, especially with SEND, the project will guarantee the development of their learning skills and the reinforcement of their social- emotional abilities and self- expression to be included in their social and cultural environment.
Objectives of the ABeyGa eu project: • To develop a holistic global didactic and playable conception of art using all sensations (look, touch, hearing, smell) • To create and adopt a multicultural approach of artworks opened to new worldviews (different perception of colors, sounds, art materials depending on the country of origin) • To support young people especially with SEND to be involved in communication by and for young people by allowing them to contribute to the creation of tools • To provide and transfer digital tools, skills (individual, collective) and practices, useful for professionals and young learners in order to improve Art Education and meet their territorial objectives • To enrich the educational value and goals in the art workshops with different cultural and practical approaches • To engage the young people in the reproduction of known sculptural works using natural materials from the regions/countries involved • To propose alternative and based on art creation ways of school and social inclusion for marginalised students • To familiarise all participants with the digital art creation in the realm of the after pandemic digitalization • To involve young people in common with the local community art activities
ABeyGa project addressed the following needs: •To empower young people especially with SEND putting them at the center of the debate so that they express feelings, emotions, needs, thoughts •To support their motivation, develop their learning abilities and facilitate their inclusion through the new ways of experiencing art creations •To exchange good practices, tools, methods, ideas, patterns or examples through different cultural approaches •To redefine the art museum approaches including the easy access and ιinteractive experience for young people with SEND •To refresh the integration practices of local communities offering innovative opportunities in the art co creation field •To create art based experiential (group or individual) actions to sort out hidden or impeded potential of young people especially with SEND in order for they to deal with social and professional challenges •To involve them concretely in the evaluation of the benefits with precise benchmarks (grids) with simple and motivating tools (videos, photos, museum digital presentations or applications) •To facilitate the digital transformation of young people, youth with SEND and the involved stakeholders according to the after COVID19 "new reality" demands