ARTEAPPYCOM

ARTEAPPYCOM examines the means by which children and young people from ‘disadvantaged’ communities   can make use of art in education to face barriers and inequalities in education, as well as other important aspects of their life beyond school.

This pilot action is designed to work with children and young people (aged 3 to 14) and adults across two Italian cities, Bologna and Forlì, in which diversity is a central characteristic; children have different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic conditions, as well as different needs and interests.

Teachers, pupils and families are the key figures in this pilot action. Overall, several teachers and pupils will be involved in the activities, co-designing and implementing the activities with the participation of art experts (photographers, videomakers, performers, actors, directors, musicians, etc). The pilot action involves all children of the classes involved in the ALPHABETICA project, as well as teachers and school headmasters. Children’s families and local community will be also involved in various activities.

What is expected to be reached by this pilot action?

UNDERSTANDING
A complex theoretical understanding of ‘disadvantage’ will be formulated, which reflects the intricate interplay of various factors, mirroring the multiplicity, complexity, and diversity inherent in the backgrounds of children and young people. This framework will consider elements such as educational background, migration, accessibility of resources and opportunities for participation.

CONNECTIONS
This pilot action bridges formal education by engaging teachers, students and families and informal community settings with a strong public and social vocation, such as libraries and/or local associations or even abandoned spaces in the cities, where interdisciplinary and intergenerational co-creation processes are promoted.

REGENERATION
Practices based on multilingualism and multiculturalism, creativity and arts nurture the positive growth of children and young people and their participation in the social and cultural life of the community.

The research pilot will encompass the co-creation of research-informed learning resources, comprising a training course or model centred around arts-based education for educators and learning practitioners. Additionally, the team, together with teachers, will develop guidance materials informed by the project to facilitate the replication of activities in diverse contexts. This approach aims to support the expansion of project activities not only across various cultural spaces, such as libraries, museums and art galleries, but also on a larger scale.