Info
Enhancing
Cultural Awareness Through Cultural Production
A more general view
Kari
Kinnunen (Kauniainen, Finnland)
Enhancing
Cultural Awareness through Cultural Production was a two-year
Grundtvig project which received funding from the European
Union. The background for this project was the increasing
cultural diversity within the European Union. A growing number
of refugees and immigrants are creating new cultural minorities
within Europe. These cultural minorities will augment cultural
diversity, but also lead to increased racism and hostility.
Adult education organisations have always had a strong role
in society as opinion formers and it will be through these
establishments that nationals and immigrants will be educated
to accept these cultural differences.
Aims
The purpose of the project “Enhancing cultural awareness
through cultural production” was to develop cultural
education methods and practices. Once developed, these methods
were then integrated into adult education, thus reducing racism
and hostility towards foreigners and different minority groups
in the European Union. During the project we combined the
skills and know-how of different adult education organisations
to achieve the set aims. The organisations involved in the
activities included universities, polytechnics, folk high
schools and reseach institutes. By organising an educational
module of cultural production, including immigrants, we developed
and implemented a common European study module. The module
can be used at different levels of adult education.
The target
group of the project included adult educators, students of
cultural production and management, immigrants and representatives
of minority cultures. The wider target group was the majority
of Europeans.
Contents
The whole project lasted for two and a half years. During
this time all the partners involved in the project cooperated
to create, develop and impliment a common European study module
of 10 ECTS. The module was implemented in all the different
institutions which paticipated in the project “Enhancing
cultural awareness through cultural production”. In
addition to the common study module the project produced several
cultural events, all aimed at increasing tolerance and decreasing
racism in the countries involved. The cultural activities
included theatre, multicultural festivals and work-shops.
By organising education for cultural productions in each of
the partner countries we created, implemented and developed
at different levels of adult education. The variety of the
partners involved in the project enabled us to benefit from
the experiences of each partner.
The project concentrated on the development, exchange and
dissemination of innovative approaches and best practices
by creating a new European study module.
Methods
The partners involved in the project worked with a minority
group which was important at national level. All the cultural
productions and events produced during the two year project
used the same methodology. The Methodology was adapted from
Augusto Boal’s “Theatre of the Oppressed”
which aims at improving society and increasing active citizenship.
Theatre of the Oppressed is a socially activating form of
art which aims to start a process of change within a community.
The method used by all the partners in the project had the
following eight phases.
Introduction: The participants analysed their own
prejudices towards the minorities involved. This analysis
was completed by a study of the history and culture of the
minorities involved.
First contact: The participants introduced themselves
to the community.
Research: The participants become involved in the
daily life of the community. This was done by having informal
discussions with representatives of the minorities. Topics
discussed included racism and intolerance.
Analysis: The participants analysed the information.
Development of the event: The participants developed
the multicultural events.
The event: The events were carried out in the community.
Discussion: Discussions to find solutions to the
problems in the community were held at the end of the event.
Conclusion: The participants analysed their own experiences
and the suitability of the method for their future working
life.
Contact
Kari
Kinnunen (Direktor) :
Arbeiterakademie/Työväen Akatemia
Vanha Turuntie 14
FIN-02700 Kauniainen
kari.kinnunen@akatemia.org
Tel: +358-09-5404-2419
Fax: +358-09-5404-2444
toimisto@akatemia.org
Downloads
Special
articles:
| Events |
|
|
Film/Photography |
|
|
|
Theatre |
|
|
Intercultural Storytelling |
|
|
Intercultural Training |
|
Special
chapters:
|
