The primary objectives of the project were to develop and test training methods for artists/educators with an artistic background to: · Create targeted, inclusive community projects. · Use music as a creative tool for inclusion and social impact. · Foster spaces of resonance that support human connection and well-being. · Engage in lifelong learning through action and reflection. · Bridge values between the arts sector and adult education. Secondary objectives were to ● Test how cooperation with social and health services can: o Recruit participants. o Build relationships between arts organisations and vulnerable families across the three partner countries. ● Strengthen lasting partnerships between the three organisations to: o Build capacity for future, larger European cooperation projects. ● Offer best practice examples in inclusion and diversity for European citizens. ● Provide innovative learning opportunities for: o Professional artists. o Adults (including parents with infants and toddlers) within an informal educational setting. ● Promote early childhood education and care from a holistic perspective ● Demonstrate the psychological and social bonding benefits of music
We applied for this project in order to be able to build up a strong partnership to enhance and develop strong existing competences through transnational sharing and new creative ideas. The grant would enable us to develop new methods of training for artist-educators through shared, practical trainings in all three countries. The project addressed the needs for training artists to be able to work as educating artists for community groups in a way that is not offered in traditional education institutions. Based on the partners' complementary experience in music education, co-creation and community engagement, the project aimed to design inclusive activities and enhance the quality of professional training for artists working in early childhood contexts. Our shared belief that access to cultural life is a fundamental human right also reinforced our motivation to apply. Many cultural offerings reach only those with strong social, economic, or educational resources, which means that less privileged groups are underrepresented. The project deliberately targeted young families with infants, because this life stage offers a unique opportunity to bring people from diverse backgrounds together.