FACE IT is about using theatre as a creative tool to promote greater empowerment and active citizenship among diverse immigrant and marginalised youth (DI&MY) with a view towards ultimately cultivating more joyfully diverse, inclusive and integrated communities in European cities. By providing trainers with opportunities to exchange and test best practices for working with DI&MY, it also seeks to increase the quality and accessibility of workshops for DI&MY and preparation for trainers. Our envisioned long-term impact was: higher quality training methodologies for working with DI&MY using theatre; more professional satisfaction/opportunities for trainers, more empowered and integrated DI&MY; more sense of belonging, integration/inclusion, cross-cultural understanding and cultural participation for the DI&MY and our local communities and audiences; more visibility and accessibility of organisations & programs using theatre to work with DI&MY among cultural policy makers, politicians and funders; more integrated and visible international and immigrant communities; and more cross-cultural understanding and exchange in major European cities.
We applied for this project to address critical challenges related to cultural diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in European cities: Amsterdam and Warsaw. There is a lack of cross-cultural understanding and appreciation for the contributions of diverse, immigrant, and minority youth (DI&MY) communities, which are rarely reflected in cultural offers (e.g. performances, exhibits). As a result, these communities may not feel welcome in cultural spaces and may not view cultural activities as worth attending or participating in. Additionally, opportunities for theatrical training and activities for DI&MY are limited due to factors such as inadequate art curricula, financial constraints, language barriers, and societal attitudes toward theatre. The FACE IT project responded to these challenges, leveraging community theatres as inclusive spaces for empowerment and cross-cultural exchange. Using innovative theatrical methodologies, we have amplified marginalized voices, nurtured active citizenship, and provided DI&MY valuable skills that open new professional opportunities. We also addressed the needs of larger immigrant communities, including Ukrainian immigrant youth, by offering free community workshops and performances.