In many cities and regions, specializations in the cultural and creative sectors are evolving, and being used to tackle competitive and societal challenges from new angles, favoring resilience, skills creation, and prosocial behavioral changes. Research confirms that arts and cultural participation lead to a range of positive outcomes for children and young people, both in terms of their cognitive development and their wellbeing. When such artistic and cultural activities take place in a community rather than a formal education setting there is very considerable potential to build local social networks. Based on initial needs analysis and previous experience of partner organizations in positioning young people in political and social processes through arts and creative expression, the consortium will develop a modular method - use 4-Module Storytelling. Partner consortium: Varaždin Underground Club, Illumniscate, Roma Youth Organization of Croatia, TDM 2000, Izvan fokusa, Legebitra, VRUM and Hajde Creative. The main goal of the 4-M Storytelling project is to develop the 4-Module Storytelling method as an innovative and creative approach for creative self-expression, networking, social inclusion, and stronger positioning of young people in political and social processes, through arts and cultural participation based on transnational collaboration and knowledge between partner organizations. To achieve the main objective of the project four specific objectives have been defined: 1) Capacity building of partner organizations and their representatives by exchanging knowledge and experience that will contribute to the development of 4-M Storytelling 2) Development of methodology for an online and offline training course for youth (culture) workers 3) Empowering and supporting youth (culture) workers to develop activities using the 4-M Storytelling method 4) Promoting arts and cultural participation of young people, interculturalism and social inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities To achieve the goals of the project, the following activities are planned: 1) Working Package 1 - Project Management 2) Working Package 2 - Development of the 4-M Storytelling Method 3) Working Package 3 - Test Phase 3) Working Package 4 - Development of interactive tutorial and web application 4) Working Package 5 - Dissemination of results and visibility With the implementation of the project, we expect strengthened capacities of participants, as well as partner organizations working in culture and arts, developed 4-M Storytelling method, developed web application and interactive tutorial where the method will be available for everyone to use and increased visibility to organizations, Erasmus + program, and final project results. The "4-M Storytelling" project will contribute to more active participation and cooperation between the target groups in the field of culture and arts, as well the project will answer the needs of the COVID-19 situation that weakened the cultural and creative sector.
Objectives were divided in 1) main objective and 2) specific objectives. The main objective of the project was to develop the 4-Module Storytelling method as an innovative and creative approach for creative self-expression, networking, social inclusion, and stronger positioning of young people in political and social processes, through arts and cultural participation based on transnational collaboration and knowledge between partner organizations. To achieve the main objective, 4 specific objectives were defined: 1) Capacity building of partner organizations and their representatives by exchanging knowledge and experience that will contribute to the development of 4-M Storytelling; 2) Development of methodology for an online and offline training course for youth (culture) workers; 3) Empowering and supporting youth (culture) workers to develop activities using the 4-M Storytelling method; 4) Promoting arts and cultural participation of young people, interculturalism and social inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.
Before developing the 4M Storytelling project, Youth Association Varaždin Underground Club (V.U.K.) had three years of experience in involving, connecting, empowering, and positioning young people in political and social processes through arts and creative expression. The main idea was to create a modular method that would convey our experiences, and the experiences of our project partners to young people, youth workers, and various organizations. Moreover, we have noticed that cultural and creative sectors are essential in terms of their economic footprint and employment, spurring innovation and making a positive social impact in different fields for youth. Such sectors are composed of non-profit organizations, creative individuals, and micro-firms that are often operating on the margins of financial sustainability. Many of the organizations use arts and culture as a tool for youth work in their local communities, while research confirmed that they lead to a wide range of positive outcomes for youth and children. Research also confirmed that artistic and cultural activities in a community contribute to building local social networks, rather than doing so in a formal, educational form. Therefore we wanted to do everything we can to unleash the full creative and artistic potential of young people. One way was to use storytelling which was not an innovative method, but we recognized it as an essential part when developing the 4M Storytelling method. Based on everything, we have addressed the following needs: a) Need for organizations working in the cultural and creative sector to empower their capacities through networking, exchange of good practice, and developing innovative solutions in the youth (cultural) work; b) Need for young people to experience arts and cultural participation, as well as to express themselves creatively.