Art in Quest for Community seminar is an initiative of the Red House in collaboration with Goethe-Institute Sofia, with the
support of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe sponsored by Germany.
Art in Quest for Community seminar
1-3 December 2006
The Red House Centre for Culture and Debate, Sofia
What is that about?
Art in Quest for Community seminar is an initiative of the Red House in collaboration with GoetheInstitute Sofia, with the support of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe sponsored by Germany.
Art in Quest for Community is rooted in the experience and knowledge we have gained through the
Art for Social Change initiatives for the last six years.
Art in Quest for Community seminar pilots an international practice of exchange of experience,
theories and models for development and support of psycho-socially engaged cultural activities that
involve participation of young people as equal partners in various creative processes, thus proactively reaching out different community groups.
We accumulated extensive practice and wide experience in variety of artistic, cultural and social
activities, and have found common ground with social work and therapeutic practices in their broader
sense.
Our belief is that participating in a creative process is a journey of self-discovery that allows learning,
improving abilities, answering difficult questions, broadening horizon, and understanding what each
ones’ place in the world is. We also believe that the participation in creative process should be
accessible to a broader community of people and especially to young people at risk or disadvantage.
The first part of the project (Youth Creative Weekend) took place in Sofia at the end of March 2006.
There were four partner organizations involved in that phase – The Red House Centre for Culture
and Debate, Bulgaria, Creative Centre, Estonia, Association of Theatre in Education Wybrzezak,
Poland and REX Cultural Centre, Serbia. A series of workshops and presentations took place; a
publication of collection of papers was given a start.
What does the seminar aim at?
Art in Quest for Community seminar encourages the cross-border promotion of psycho-social support
of disadvantaged young people through creative means, coming from the perfoming arts (theatre and
1
Art in Quest for Community seminar is an initiative of the Red House in collaboration with Goethe-Institute Sofia, with the
support of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe sponsored by Germany.
drama, drama in education, forum-theatre, drawing, etc.) and expressive methods (psychodrama,
play-back theatre, sociodrama, art therapy, etc.). It is about exchanging and spreading of knowledge,
practices and experience between individuals and capacity building.
The programme
This time we gather from 1st till 3rd of December 2006 at the Red House to explore in a group context
our own creativity and spontaneity in order to get to a common ground practice and to enrich our
understanding and knowledge in the filed of psycho-social support through creative means.
In the preliminary agenda we have planned:
Psychodrama introduction workshop for exploring the space in-between arts, social practices and
therapy. (Detailed agenda will follow shortly.);
Presentations of organizations, individual practices and case studies on the use of artistic means in
group work with young people at risk or disadvantage. (Each presentation will be followed by an
informal discussion.);
Video presentations: In the evenings, apart from the cultural programme at the Red House,
participants are invited to give visual examples of their projects with young people, will be facilitated
to meet informally and talk;
Public event and culture events, free time.
Who can apply for participation?
The Art in Quest for Community seminar addresses young practitioners, researchers and students
from various professional and educational backgrounds (various arts, psychology, social sciences,
social works, humanities, psychotherapy, cultural management, etc.) engaged in their daily practice
or interested in work with young people and communities endangered by exclusion by one or another
reason from democracy, education, work and culture.
An international group of up to 15 preliminary selected participants will be invited to follow the entire
programme of the seminar.
Some more will be invited to join the public presentations, presentation of case studies discussions
and workshops.
The working language of the seminar is English and is a requirement for participation.
2
Art in Quest for Community seminar is an initiative of the Red House in collaboration with Goethe-Institute Sofia, with the
support of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe sponsored by Germany.
How to apply?
In case you would like to apply for participation please fill in the enclosed application form, prepare
your c.v. resume and a short motivation letter.
Please send them to tzviossifova@redhouse-sofia.org or fax them to (+ 359 2) 988 81 88, 986 44 16
by Wednesday, November 15.
All the applicants will be notified with the results by Friday, November 17.
Please note that you are supposed to arrive not later that on Thursday, November 30 and leave not
earlier than on Monday December 4.
What can you personally contribute to the seminar?
You encourage you to offer a workshop, verbal and/or video presentation, case study presentation,
topic for a discussion you would like to share with the other participants. Please describe your idea in
the application form or separately (see the application form) and we would try to find suitable time
and space for it.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available. They will be awarded to people selected for
participation and who have presented a reasonable motivation. In case you apply for a scholarship,
please indicate that in the application form.
Where the seminar will take place?
The place where the seminar will take place is at:
The Red House Centre for Culture and Debate:
15, Ljuben Karavelov St., 1142 Sofia – Bulgaria
T/F (+ 359 2) 988 81 88, 986 44 16
E-mail: tzviossifova@redhouse-sofia.org
www.redhouse-sofia.org
Skype: tzvetelinaiossifova
3