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Description
Art+Food+Next Generation combines visual arts, technologies, environmental sciences and gastronomy into a series of interdisciplinary artistic workshops for children and youngsters in the age between 10 and 18. The project results will include the online arts platform Create+Eat+Share; DIY art kit Eat+Art; a series of online and onsite workshops in Cesis, a final exhibition, and a short film series. Particular focus is given to individuals with little access to high quality artistic and cultural activities. The unfolding environmental and political crises have an immense psychological impact on children and youth. It is the next generations who will experience increased and severe impact of these crises such as war and global warming. Together with children, invited artists and chefs, the project uses art and food as a medium for critical reflection on the ongoing and future crises both in Latvia and globally. The project helps the next generation to creatively address and deal with climate anxiety and uncertainty about futures.
Summary of project results
The project was needed to increase the accessibility of qualitative artistic activities to the target group (children and youth aged 10-18 in Latvia). The focus was on the target audience with limited access to such activities, although all the pupils aged 10-18 were welcome to join. The project was also needed due to the high level of eco-anxiety and uncertainty about the future in the target group (due to increased awareness of climate change, global warming, Ukraine war, etc).
In the project, art and culture were presented as a tool to deal with these uncertainties and to imagine better futures. This made all the activities an important tool to provide for children and youth to help themselves to shape their futures.
There were 12 cultural products produced (4 online workshops, 5 onsite workshops, 1 DIY-art-kit, 1 onsite festival, 1 online platform), which were the main results of the project. The unintended result was the final publication, it was meant to be a simple report but was developed as a book. Also, there were many more online workshops delivered than intended. Also, the extent of the exhibition in Norway expanded, including an additional online workshop in partner organization.
As a result of the project the project participants (target group-children and youth) have discovered experimental art forms and creative thinking as a tool to deal with various challenges and changes in the world. They have co-produced artworks with the artists and shared their visions of the future with other participants. Additionally, also, the parents of the children and youth have learned that art can come in so many more forms than what it is usually through of (a painting, for example).
As a result of the project, children and youth who have participated in the project, have increased their exposure to experimental high-quality art, they also have become much more aware of the artistic activities both partner organizations offer to the public, and know how to access them.
There is a long-term impact of the project in many ways. The way all the participants see art has changed, and they have been exposed to creative thinking about future changes and challenges, which will shape their mindset and futures. The project also has a long-term impact in the sense that it will extend beyond the project timeline, through the project website, and other projects that will be developed based on this initiative as part of already different projects.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnership contributed to the project results immensely. The Norwegian artists got to know the target group (children and youth 10-18) in Latvia early throughout the planning, and running of the online activities. That allowed us to cater the onsite activities specifically for the audience the artists were already familiar with. The project itself will also be continued through a scientific book about organizing artistic activities for children and youth, the book will use the project and its activities as the main example, a case study. The book will be published in Norway and distributed internationally. This points to the success of the project leading to both results in Latvia and Norway.The project led to collaboration on another EU-level project, where this time, the RUCKA is involved as a partner.