CultuRE:imagined Erasmus Project

Project Title

CultuRE:imagined

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 : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

With an abrupt outbreak of Covid-19, local organisations in different parts of Europe were faced with severe challenges: cultural actors were not able to adapt fast enough to the changes and their livelihood was in danger; youth work needed to find new ways to contact and involve youth; and youth felt detached, anxious and/or lacking motivation. Everyday life got disconnected in many ways. Local organisations are often small actors who have limited resources and possibilities to react to such dramatic changes. By combining forces, the challenges can be overcome and even new solutions will rise.

The goal of the project ”CultuRE:imagined” is to develop creative ways to make cultural heritage more visible and involve youth in local cultural activities. Cultural heritage and local history form a fundamental basis for cultural sector regardless where they are or what they do. It is also a theme that is still often treated traditionally. Therefore, there is still plenty of room for creative solutions and new initiatives. Furthermore, the youth perspective is often lacking. This project will offer youth a possibility to participate and learn new skills. Groups of youngsters will have a crucial role in planning and implementing cultural activities that have an impact for wider communities. During the project, young people are doing something for themselves and their peers.

The project implies a series of national and international sessions where dialogues will be established between the youth and the professionals, and between sectors. That includes meet-ups with facilitated discussions between young people to map out needs and attitudes regarding cultural heritage and its relevance, forming action groups from the young people who are interested to improve leadership, organizational and project management skills and train “ambassadors” who will further dialogue and involvement.

As a source of inspiration and thematic substance we will use Kalevala, Finnish-Karelian epics which is on its own a profound source of cultural knowledge and an internationally known and unifying cultural heritage. One of the partners has developed a board game based on Kalevala, which will be used as an example of good practice and can be adapted to other national stories / folklore.

Each partner will implement local activities involving youth in every step of the project: organisations will provide a context for the activities which will be planned and implemented by youth. Each organisation will create a setting based on their own historical and/or cultural context but all share the same narratives and aspects of gamification and storytelling. Both professionals and youth will collaborate with peers locally and transnationally to enhance skills development and inclusion through culture, arts and creativity. The experiences from the project will increase the resilience and abilities to adapt to different circumstances and environments.

The project gathers young people and professionals from youth and culture sectors from four countries: Finland, Lithuania, Russian Federation and Spain. The project starts in May 2021 and lasts for 18 months.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 77143 Eur

Project Coordinator

Nouseva Rannikkoseutu & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Alytaus jaunimo centras
• NUORISO- JA MATKAILUKESKUS HYVARILAOY
• Asociación Juvenil “Jarrón Club”
• Limingan kunta