There is an urgent need in Europe to overcome social forces and tendencies that lead to conflict, division and social alienation. Across the generations, in communities most affected by the economic downturn and the isolation forced upon them by the Covid-19 pandemic, people with creative talent are feeling marooned and isolated. The European Community and Participatory Arts movement is characterised by a critical social engagement where practising artists practising artists in fields of performance, music, dance and drama, writing, the visual arts, creative and digital media empower the public to make and participate in the arts (Matarasso, Comedia, 1997, 2016). This practice, led by ‘artists as educators’ in non-formal and informal settings, fosters community integration and social cohesion by breaking down boundaries – between countries, social groups, young and older; between faiths and cultures; between artists and audiences. Social Action Projects are multi-stage educational processes and structured learning outcomes, developed through voluntary and community service in neighbourhood settings, based in the idea that people are willing to participate to help others in need in their communities; and that there is value and benefit from learning about social issues in local and global communities (Office for Civil Society). Motivate to Create (M2C) combines the traditions and values of these Europe’s Community and Participatory Arts (CPA) practice with Social Action Projects (SAPs) generate a suite of integrated learning activities, tools, resources and courses for adult and community education. It is a new Strategic Partnerships for Creativity that brings together 6 partners from 5 countries (UK, ES, HR, IT, SK) drawn from a range of partners active in adult education, the creative and cultural industries and community development. Its purpose is to foster creativity and nurture talent, generated through participatory artistic and creative processes, supported by innovative, case study-based learning methods that will draw out the expression and creativity of all groups and ages in society, to act as a catalyst to for changes within a community through ‘place based’ neighbourhood development. In doing so, M2C addresses three key priorities of the Erasmus+ programme: (a) Skills development and inclusion through creativity and the arts (b) Common values, civic engagement and participation and (c) Social Inclusion. M2C is a 24 month project that will test and validate the approach with a transnational community of practice, directly engaging 30 community learning practitioners, 150 adults of all ages, including young adults (18-25) targeted at disadvantaged communities and underrepresented groups. Participants will be enabled to come together in task teams and determine, design, plan, implement and review their SAPs. They will be supported through the M2C methodology to explore how creativity, multiculturalism and stimulating intercultural engagement can equip and empower people to be successful innovators in their environment to unveil opportunity and tackle unprecedented societal challenges. The COVID-19 crisis has led to many in the cultural and creative sectors losing their employment due to the consequences of lockdown and restrictions. Both the sector and those it supports through artistic and cultural expression have a critical role to play in the post-pandemic recovery in society. By the end of the project, the M2C project will generate three new multilingual Intellectual Outputs that are highly transferable, namely: IO1 Methodological Concept –an innovative and transferable method and practice for creative, andragogical approaches in non-formal adult education settings; IO2 The M2C Online Learning Curriculum –an interactive, elearning environment for (I) Creative and Cultural Educators, (ii) Community Developers and (iii) Community Leaders as a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme; IO3 The M2C Community Leader ‘Pocket Guide’ – provides accessible, digital resources from an online platform for enhancing social capital, social cohesion, integration and democratic participation. These IOs will equip Europe’s community education workers and community artists with innovative methodologies, resources and techniques to develop their knowledge and capability to structure and support communities through intergenerational social action project-based learning. Ultimately, M2C will impact more widely in the dissemination and sustainability of its results as a response to the calls of Eurydice, ET2020 and the OECD for active, interactive, critical, collaborative and participative learning for adults and to address citizenship education, offering a unique solution to foster social inclusion, active citizenship, cultural awareness and learning while creating a new practitioner network across Europe.
Our purpose was to foster creativity and nurture talent, generated through participatory artistic and creative processes, supported by innovative, case study-based learning methods. M2C aimed to draw out the expression and creativity of all groups and ages in society, and to act as a catalyst for changes within a community through ‘place-based’ neighbourhood development. Specific objectives were to: - Exchange learning and practice across Europe from a systematic inquiry into social action in the context of non-formal arts-based learning - Reinforce creativity in education and the resilience of the cultural and creative sectors through social action, participatory and intercultural dialogue - Maximise the transferability of the project’s outcomes and results across Europe by developing a common approach and language. Concrete results proposed included: - 30 SAP facilitators validate the M2C results through pilot testing, contributing learning and working together - 150 adult learners supported by the 30 facilitators - 250 stakeholders directly engaged in multiplier events and local consultations and engagements, with another 5,000 via dissemination and engagement over the project lifetime
As described in the application, Motivate to Create (M2C) was designed in response to (a) a range of factors in Adult and Community Education and within the Creative, Cultural (including the arts) Industries (CCIs) precipitated by the Covid crisis and (b) a new impetus for ‘social action as adult education’, at community level. We wanted to combine the traditions and values of Europe’s community and participatory arts practice with Social Action Projects (SAPs) to support learners and communities, in a crisis context and post-pandemic, benefitting more people and places. Opportunities created in this vibrant part of the economy are ‘out of reach’ for many. Those from privileged backgrounds are more than twice as likely to land a job in a creative occupation, dominating key creative roles, shaping what goes on stage, page and screen. Rinova, and our partners, set out to diversify voices, provide learning activities, tools, resources and courses for community facilitators working in adult and community education in disadvantaged communities via a transnational community of practice (CoP), sharing and exchanging learning, and developing a common approach to organising arts-based SAPs rooted in community development practice.