Creativity in Art&Design for Learners and Educators Erasmus Project

Project Title

Creativity in Art&Design for Learners and Educators

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 for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Recognizing the fact that staff with formal education in LLL do not have the competencies that would enable them to carry out educational activities among the older population (retirees), we came up with the idea to develop a program to mitigate or remedy this problem.

The CrADLE project aims at developing and expanding the competencies of educators of older generation participants (54+) in specialized workshops in the field of visual expression, with an emphasis on teaching methods and tools by effectively using innovative solutions.

The specificity of the program that will be developed through this project is that it will educate those persons who carry out educational programs with the elderly (54+).

Various documents outlining European policy priorities highlight the importance of involving the elderly in active citizenship. The Europe 2020 document states: “Helping people of all ages manage change through investment in skills and training.” and that ‘Adult learning is an important part of the European Commission’s lifelong learning policy, crucial for competitiveness and employability, social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development across Europe. The challenge is to provide learning opportunities for all, especially the disadvantaged who need them most. “Also, the European Adult Learning Agenda document states:” Learning is also essential for social inclusion and active citizenship. (…) Participation rates are especially disappointing for low-skilled people and the elderly. “In Croatia, as in other European countries, the number of members of the elderly population is increasing. After retirement, the elderly does not know where to channel their energy, how to release their potential creativity. The creative programs planned to be created through collaboration on this project will enable seniors to unleash their creative potential, learn some new skills, fulfil their leisure time well, fulfil the need for communication and socializing in a meaningful environment. Also, programs like this will help older people maintain their motor skills.

The implementation of this project will produce more results, but we highlight key ones
1. Teaching staff who carry out workshops of fine and creative arts for the elderly will acquire competences to work with such persons through the educational program developed in the project.
2. Through the work on the project, a manual will be created that will explain the methodology of working with the elderly in the field of visual expression.
3. 11 Creative expression programs developed.

The consequences of achieving the first key result are that fine arts teachers and other teachers will acquire additional competencies to work adequately with the elderly. This has the effect that they will be able to better understand older people and their problems and needs, which is especially important for younger professors. Furthermore, teachers will be able to share this newly acquired knowledge with colleagues in their schools and institutions where they work.
Another key result of the project is a manual for working with the elderly in the field of fine arts intended for teachers of fine arts.

In its totality, the project contributes to raising awareness of the importance of creative expression and creation in the healthy aging process.

The project aims to achieve effects at multiple levels and with multiple elements:
Participant level: participants in the project will become familiar with the work of partner institutions; will gain experience in implementing international projects; will get ideas for future projects; Enrich the offer of educational programs in their institutions; will improve its work in working with the elderly; Fine arts teachers and other teachers will become better trained coaches in courses with seniors and will gain additional competencies in working with seniors.
Level of organizations: will provide higher quality and competent teachers to work with the elderly; will enrich the offer with new programs and reach more participants; they will have more satisfied participants; they will have teachers educated to work with the elderly; it will be available to other institutions interested in educating the elderly for mentoring and assistance
Level of other relevant stakeholders: interesting programs for the elderly; a more complete local community; filled seniors’ leisure time and an enriched leisure offer; nicer aging; stimulated creativity, satisfied and happy participants, and thus their families; to start thinking about options for older people that have not yet been implemented.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 130328 Eur

Project Coordinator

Narodno uciliste ustanova za obrazovanje i kulturu & Country: HR

Project Partners

• Associação Rede de Universidades da Terceira Idade
• LJUDSKA UNIVERZA ORMOZ
• Institutul Roman de Educatie a Adultilor