The Y-ARTS project aims to empower young people by improving their active participation in democratic processes and promoting their sense of responsibility within society through the medium of performing arts. The overall goal is to use nonformal education methods to engage young people in civic life and inspire them to become agents of social change. Y-ARTS is the natural evolution of the YPAL network, which has successfully brought together young audiences, artists, students, and cultural professionals across Europe at various festivals, such as the FARaway Festival in Reims (France) and the ZIP Festival at the Teatre de Catalunya in Barcelona (Spain). At these meetings, YPAL members were able to conduct workshops, exchange best practices, participate together in live performances, dialogue with artists, and reflect on their role as young spectators of the performing arts. Building on the successful experience of YPAL while recognizing the need for a more autonomous and structured platform, Y-ARTS is designed to provide a new and independent space for young people in which to deepen their involvement in theater as a tool for social change and amplify the spirit of collective learning. Y-ARTS is a project designed by young people for young people, which now takes the form of a formal youth exchange program cast in a recognized artistic, professional and participatory context to put young people at the center. In fact, the project fits uniquely within the successful Direction Under 30 festival of the Teatro Sociale di Gualtieri, which for more than a decade has had an artistic direction entirely managed by young people under 30 and which programmatically promotes, presents and awards shows by companies and artists under 30, creating an environment-always open to the entire audience-in which young audiences and young artists of the same age meet, confront, discover and support each other. This participatory model is an illuminating example of how young people can take on leadership roles, make decisions and shape cultural initiatives, aligning perfectly with the goals of Y-ARTS. From the perspective of working with young people, the project aims to: >Promote active citizenship: Through interactive and artistic methods, young people will develop a better understanding of the role they can play in democratic society, learning how they can influence decisions and policies that affect them. >Improving teamwork and decision-making skills: The collaborative nature of the project's artistic activities, such as theater workshops and group discussions, will enable participants to work together, make collective decisions and manage conflict, all essential skills for participating in democratic life. >Promoting leadership and responsibility: By actively engaging in the creation and implementation of artistic and spectator activities, youth will take on leadership roles, learning to lead teams, manage projects and contribute meaningfully to their communities. >Encouraging the use of the arts for social transformation: The project seeks to show how the arts, particularly the performing arts, can be a powerful tool for raising awareness of social, cultural and environmental issues, in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. >Create a youth network for social change: Y-ARTS seeks to expand the YPAL network by engaging new European participants and creating a platform where young artists, audiences, cultural professionals and students can come together to collaborate, exchange best practices and promote social change through the performing arts. The project aims to build a sustainable network that encourages young people to take charge of their learning and artistic expression. >Fostering European collaboration and cultural exchange: Bringing together young participants from different countries-including Italy, France, Greece and Spain-the project aims to promote intercultural dialogue and strengthen European collaboration. Participants will participate in workshops, co-create performances and explore how the performing arts can be a powerful tool for civic engagement and social transformation. The project aims to equip young people with the space, time, skills and confidence they need to actively participate in societal change; it also aims to develop a network of young individuals and organizations across Europe that, through the performing arts, produce positive social impacts in communities and territories.