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EscARTism

2025-1-PT02-KA152-YOU-0002989862025Mobility of young peopleongoing
Countries: PT|LT|CZ|TR|RS|ES · Grant: €58,807
Creativity, arts and cultureDisabilitiesPreventing racism and discrimination

Objectives

Escapism, noun, es·cap·ism [i-ˈskā-ˌpi-zəm]: ‘habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine’. The Youth Exchange ‘EscARTism’ comes as a commitment to improving the social situation of persons with disabilities and sending the world a message. Around 87 million people in the EU have some form of disability and many of them are treated badly or unfairly, with 52% of persons with disabilities feeling discriminated against. Having the name inspired from the term ‘escapism’, we propose, as a consortium, the project to be used as an escape from the ugly truth encountered in society and from the barriers that the people with disabilities are facing when trying to integrate, using art- more specifically theatre as a means of expression. "EscARTism" is our way of doing activism through art. One of the main objectives of this project is to create a performance that is a mixture of artistic expressions, which can provide participants and spectators with a journey through the world of special young people, through theatre. The performance will focus on the lives of people with disabilities and aims to raise awareness on the challenges they face when trying to integrate in the society. In addition to this, the series "Our EscARTism Quest" will capture through video testimonials the growth and learning journey of the participants, exploring in depth various dimensions such as overcoming challenges, development of empathy and awareness, and more, all related to the methodology of the Theatre of the Oppressed. This digital content will represent the timeless resources that can later on be used for more impact in the communities across Europe. The 'EscARTism' Youth Exchange program seeks to improve social conditions for individuals with disabilities and promote a global message of inclusion. It encourages positive cross-cultural interactions, aiming to reshape perceptions and increase understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. The initiative also raises awareness of their barriers, advocating for equal rights and inclusion in society and the economy. Through fostering learning and empathy, participants develop active citizenship and promote a culture of tolerance, inclusivity, and appreciation for diversity. We will focus on experiential learning for youth through the Theatre of the Oppressed, which fosters critical thinking by analyzing community issues and promoting active dialogue. This method equips participants with skills to live harmoniously with differences and significantly impacts their daily lives. Through in-depth exploration and varied techniques, participants will gain insights into others’ perspectives, social interactions, and issue resolution, enhancing their understanding of community challenges, expectations, and fears. Essentially, they will be better prepared to fulfill their roles as active citizens and agents of change promoting inclusion more effectively. We aim to provide a firsthand experience to enhance the visibility of this methodology's benefits and create a series of digital testimonials highlighting their experiences with the Theatre of the Oppressed, to illustrate its transformative potential. Through "EscARTism", we aim to encourage local communities to adopt more creative and inclusive practices, thereby inspiring change and fostering empathy, particularly in interactions with youth with disabilities. At a European level, we strive to generate a ripple effect, as participants share their knowledge, methodologies, and success stories upon returning to their respective countries, promoting inclusive and innovative approaches to youth work across borders. Art has always been a way to open up space to absorb the world's teachings and improve living together in society, respecting the differences, the limits and characteristics of each person, without reducing people to stereotypes. By exploring the methodological character of art we also find a socialising factor, and socialisation is an indispensable tool for the acquisition of social inclusion. The inclusive performative experience that we aim to create is based on an experiential pedagogy - Theatre of the Oppressed. The process is seen as an essential tool for acquiring skills to promote harmonious living with difference. Experiencing, sharing, feeling and transmitting in a joint construction in which everyone has an active and special participation will be promoted. The project ‘EscARTism’ aims to provide a time and space for sharing and contributing to the construction of a more inclusive society and comes from a perspective of learning, awareness, promotion and sharing of good practices.

Project partners (6)