Artistic Intervention – A research on sustainable concepts of social and professional integration of youth with less opportunities Erasmus Project

Project Title

Artistic Intervention – A research on sustainable concepts of social and professional integration of youth with less opportunities

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 : Strategic Partnerships addressing more than one field

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Reaching the policy level/dialogue with decision makers; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Research and innovation

Project Summary

Today, a great many projects are undertaken in the young person’s sector, and mechanisms and initiatives launched to assist young people to flourish in their personal life and combat social exclusion. Consequently, the effectiveness of culture as a lever for local and human development no longer needs to be demonstrated. Recognition of Agenda 21 and cultural rights of individuals is sufficient proof of this. It, therefore, appears to be essential to develop transversal or trans-sectoral projects where respect of cultural diversity lies at the very centre of concerns, as outlined by UNESCO: “as a source of exchange, innovation and creativity, cultural diversity is, for human beings, just as necessary as biodiversity in the natural world”. Transversality has become a model for public policies in European territories, notably via the commitment of the European Commission and the development of funds, such as the Erasmus + programme which allow stakeholders to initiate joint reflection around strategic trans-sectoral projects. Many professionals from various different sectors of activities work together, but precisely how do they collaborate?

It is in this framework that Latitudes Contemporaines, in collaboration with ALEFPA, the IRTS and its English (Tyne and Wear Museums) and German (IMAL – International Munich Art Lab) partners, collectively developed a series of reflections seminars throughout 2015 entitled “Artistic Intervention – Research on sustainable concepts of social and professional integration of young people with fewer opportunities”.

The objective was twofold; firstly, to train professionals in European issues concerning trans-sectoral projects (social and cultural sectors) and developing joint methods. This was a way of bringing together different points of view, tools and working methods inherent to each country. In 2016, the work was brought together and the results published in a trilingual publication, webplatform available online and a European symposium.

Three seminars took place in different partner countries (Newcastle, Munich and Lille) during 2015. These seminars were, on each occasion, followed by professional partners in the social and cultural sectors, including youth workers, cultural mediators, trainers, coordinators, directors and students from the IRTS. Seminars allowed for better understanding of the context of trans-sectoral projects inherent to each country, to share experiences and practices. This was the ideal opportunity to dialogue with young European participants and, finally, to involve social work students from the IRTS. All of this was hugely useful in defining our working areas and the guideline for research which is outlined in the methodological publication. Consequently, four transnational meetings were also organise with a view to collectively reflecting on content for the methodological publication, publishing written documents, reports and agreeing on a mutual research framework.

The objective of this subsequent period, during 2016, was therefore to allow for the results of these seminars to be collected together and promoted with three significant publications:
– Publication of a trilingual methodological publication (O1). This promotes the importance and interest of artistic projects in the empowerment of young people in their personal projects, in logics of cooperation/joint production of diversified stakeholders.
– Online publication of a dedicated webplatform (O2). The purpose of this webplatform is to create an area of visibility which promotes the results of the project. Interactive tools can be used and consulted by professionals, the general public, students, politicians and authorities.
– Organisation of a European symposium (E1), on 17th November 2016 at the Conseil Régional Hauts-de-France in Lille, under the presidency of Mrs Catherine Lalumière in the presence of around 300 participants from across Europe and the greater city area. This symposium brought together professionals from the cultural and educational sectors, social workers, artists, students, experts and young beneficiaries of these initiatives. This event all had an impact on and led to questioning by elected representatives at European scale and to constitute a network of stakeholders on these themes.

In order to reflect on the long-term benefits and to continue the impetus created by this initial project, we would like to:
– Give ourselves the means to further deepen the questions about living together,
– Promoting alternative methods in artistic processes,
– Considering artistic processes as areas for debate and collective construction and, consequently, democratic areas which combat all forms of self-containment and political and/or religious radicalisation

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 242268,56 Eur

Project Coordinator

Latitudes Contemporaines & Country: FR

Project Partners

• INSTITUT REGIONAL DU TRAVAIL SOCIAL HAUTS-DE-FRANCE
• Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
• Kontrapunkt e.V.
• ALEFPA SHEREL