European towns – connected through art Erasmus Project

Project Title

European towns – connected through art

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy; Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions

Project Summary

Background:
The project should strengthen the relationship between Wolfsberg and Varpalota which have been in contact for 20 years. This friendship can now be used to encourage cooperation in the educational area. One main aim is to invigorate ties between schools. “BORG Wolfsberg” and “Thuri György Gymnasium” offer similar subjects. As the two schools also focus on arts and music, their successful European collaboration is guaranteed.
Aims:
Main aims are to aid students in expanding their knowledge about arts and music and to foster social skills. Another aim is to assist students’ development towards personal independence, in particular when it comes to conducting artistic activities. At the end, Austrian and Hungarian students should be able to present results to the public.
Another aim is to develop connections with people living in another European country. There will be opportunities for students from the Austrian and the Hungarian school to meet each other. These meetings will incite young people to develop friendships. Due to the short distance between Wolfsberg and Varpalota, it is likely that students will remain friends, even after the project.
Additionally, students are encouraged to express their creativity. They can be creative beyond constraints of ordinary lessons at school. For example, students create presentations to introduce their hometown. With guidance from teachers, students will take photos and produce drawings of places in their home region. As a result, young people learn more about their surroundings. They will also obtain insights into photographic and artistic techniques. This is helpful for a teenager’s future career because many jobs demand digital, creative and graphic understanding.
Towards the end, an exhibition of students’ artwork is planned. Most of the students might not have experience in planning such an event. Therefore, teachers support students. This procedure depicts another aim, namely to impart knowledge important for students’ work life. Conducting such an event requires students’ ability to work in a team. Not only do students learn to find compromises, they simultaneously develop skills such as empathy and conflict resolution.
In regard to the exhibitions, there is another advantage. These two events do not only focus on arts but also on regional music and traditional dances. Students will present country-specific songs and dances. Young people can develop musical skills. As a result, students develop an interest in their culture as well as the culture from other countries.
Educators who take part are Dir. Peter Reischl, Nicole Schatz, Günther Dohr, Andrea Fian, Andrea Hirsch, Anna Markut. The headmaster and teachers are experienced in such projects.
Meetings: The first meeting takes place in Varpalota in November 2020. Teachers discuss the project. In February 2021 Hungarian students visit Wolfsberg and present their hometown. They will use self-made drawings and photos. In May 2021 Austrian students travel to Varpalota and present their hometown. This will be carried out with self-made drawings and photos. In October 2021 there will be another meeting for teachers in Wolfsberg to discuss current developments. In February 2022, Austrian students come to Varpalota and present their paintings in an art exhibition. These are paintings which they have worked out within the project. Austrians will also present traditional songs and carry out cultural dances. In May 2022 Hungarian students visit Wolfsberg and show their paintings in an art exhibition. They will now also include Hungarian songs and dances.
Implementation: At the first school staff meeting, teachers will analyse the organisational implementation of the project. At school, teachers then provide students with ideas, give them advice and enough time to realise their plans for the project. As a preparation for students’ upcoming presentations about their hometown in the partner school, teachers will conduct photographic excursions with students. Students will learn the skills needed to take artistic and meaningful photos of special places in their hometown. Since students also need to be prepared for the art exhibitions, they will get support from Art teachers. Art lessons will be used to create their own paintings. For the art exhibition, music teachers will also explore and develop muscial and dancing performances. This preparatory work takes place individually at both partner schools.
Results and positive effects: Throughout the project, participating students will discover, further develop and apply their administrative, artistic and creative skills. Regarding social skills, working on a project together encompasses huge advantages for students and teachers. For example, mutual respect, tolerance and empathy will be needed to achieve positive results at the end of the project. Schools, parents and local authorities will recognise the capabilities of the young people in our society.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 39312 Eur

Project Coordinator

Bundesrealgymnasium und Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Wolfsberg & Country: AT

Project Partners

• Thuri György Gimnázium és Alapfokú Müvészeti Iskola