Description
Afanias is an NGO working with people with intellectual disabilities. Its cultural department wishes to increase a greater access of people with intellectual disabilities to culture and to offer more opportunities of active artistic expression for them. Afanias and the community of Solheimar in Iceland share the opinion that knowledge is the basis for acceptance and respect. Through the project, people with intellectual disabilities will be actively involved in intercultural dialogue. The objective is: - To bring together artists with intellectual disabilities. - To encourage the exchange of knowledge. - To foster cultural dialogue between cultural players from Spain and Iceland through the study of writers from the two countries. The result of the project will be a study of Federico Garcia Lorca and Audur Jonsdottir, and two performances. The performances will take place and be discussed in Iceland and Spain. The artists participating in the project, people involved in Afanias and Solheimar and the general public will benefit from the project by involving persons with intellectual disabilities participation in art projects.
Summary of project results
Afanias and the community of Solheimar in Iceland share the opinion that knowledge is the basis for acceptance and respect. The objectives of the project was to bring together artists with mental disabilities and to foster cultural dialogue between Spain and Iceland. The result of the project was a study of Federico Garcia Lorca and Audur Jonsdottir, and two dance performances. The first performances were held at the Icelandic National Theatre in Reykjavik in May 2014. After the performances the artists met to discuss their interpretations and how they could be improved. The result was later presented in June in Madrid at the Mira Theatre in Pozuelo de Alarcón. People with mental disabilities are normally deemed as mere consumers of culture. By placing them in the centre of the creative process, this project emphasised the value of each individual with their own abilities and potential. The project wanted to show that people with mental disabilities are able to create a cultural production that would enrich our common European culture. They share the view that art is a way of meeting new people, and works as a tool for reflection, discussions and social exchange.
Summary of bilateral results
The Icelandic partner, Solheimar, is a sustainable community known for its artistic and ecological atmosphere where approximately a 100 people live and work together. Roughly 45 of the residents have special needs. All activities that was implemented in the project, was planned and prepared in collaboration between Afanias and Solheimar. Solheimar provided support and knowledge in the study of the Icelandic writer and was responsible for the activities that took place in Iceland. On an institutional level, the project has been successful in establishing a very good relationship between the two partners. By collaborating, they have exchanged knowledge and experiences that has had a positive impact on the result of the project. Involving persons with mental disabilities in cultural projects may inspire other cultural operators to do the same. The project may generate new experiences and methodology in terms of diversity and culture. Hence, the social value of the project goes beyond the concrete studies and performances.