Youth exchange on art, creativity and nature
Five national groups each taught the others an art technique, then made art from natural materials together. The artworks are still on the farm.
Why
Art is a way into nature that doesn’t need a common language. We wanted young people to discover techniques from other countries, teach each other and create something lasting, using what the farm gives.
What happened
In the national workshops each group taught the others an art technique, such as texture art with home-made paste and clay, collage with natural materials, or painting and stamping with plant pigments. Each group prepared its workshop on a shared sheet (objectives, materials, timing, debriefing). The participants then created artworks with natural materials for the farm.
Reflection was part of every day. Participants kept learning diaries to follow what they achieved, the day opened with a tune-in, and in the evening national groups met in reflection circles. Every evening the Group Leaders also read short anonymous notes from participants together, to spot needs in the group. There was a free afternoon, and the week ended with a Youthpass session and a final evaluation.
Open day: “Sprouts of nARTurals”
The exchange closed with an open day at the farm, promoted with a bilingual poster. About 30 local residents, children and adults, came. Participants guided them around their artworks, shared snacks from home and ran short versions of their workshops.
Results
- The peer-taught workshops were the most valued method.
- Participants learned techniques from other countries and how to teach and create together. Young participants also gained confidence in speaking English and in front of a group.
- The artworks stayed. The water tank is still decorated and signed by the participants, and other paintings hang in Kora’s office and around the farm.
“We could actually give something back to the farm through the art.” (a participant)