Thanks to:Fundació La Caixa

Jouni Piekkari

EU Joint Actions

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONDIRECTORATE-GENERALEDUCATION AND CULTURESOCRATES, LEONARDO AND YOUTH PROGRAMMES

Art, educators, communities

a participatory approach

Jouni Piekkari, Finland

Aims of this presentation...• What is participatory approach in

arts?• training of community artist-

educators in Finland• international impacts and inspiration• examples of community art projects,

that have also been art educator trainings

(The text in full can be found in the book ”DRAMA – a WAY to Social inclusion”. Downloadable at www.tkk.utu.fi/dramaway)

My work...

• teacher of socio-cultural work and drama on polytechnic and university levels (free lance)

• producing cultural events and trainings for educators

• cultural exchange• action research in musical

anthropology (ethnomusicology)

In my work I emphasize...• integrative approach: • helping different groups meet and know each

other

• open networks and potential communities

• art for social change - issue based work

• use of traditional forms of expression

• use of drama to integrate different elements of the artistic work

* A group of people close to each other physically or mentally

* potential, sleeping, unborn

communities

* networks of communities

- integrating approach

Communities?

Theories and

inspirations

Pedagogy of LiberationPaulo Freire, Brazil

• learning is a process of active dialogue

• learning starts from the everyday experiences of the learners

• giving names to the problems

• questioning leads to awareness and social change

• art is a tool for understanding

• ”folk media” - locally accepted forms

PamodziZambian-Finnishexperiments of

Theatre-for-Development

in Finland, 1994

photos: Mikael Rönkkö

Against xenofobia in bars….

Theatre for AwarenessNatya Chetana, Orissa, India

Photo: Tarja Ervasti

pupil as an active creator of her

reality: Constructivism

• strictly defined curriculum is impossible:

• each individual constructs understanding on the basis of her earlier life experiences

• pupil learns both in and outside of school

• different learning strategies are respected

• drama can integrate different subjects

Polytechnic of Seinäjoki students constructing their understanding on technology: fight between the sexes

What is participatory approach?

• communities themselves plan, implement and evaluate - outside facilitators help the process

• all members are helped to participate - regardless of age, gender or social status

• the goal is positive social change

• what is ”positive change” is defined by the community itself - not the”developers” from outside

• building of identity and cultural aspect are essential

Educator as facilitator * learning is a

dialogue:educators and communities learn from each other

* educators and community members are researchers,anthropologist

* research is interaction

Finnish educators learning folkdances and helping in hay making,(Viena Karelia,

Russia 2001)

Theatre for Development

experiments in ZambiaPhoto: Annamari Karjalainen

Participatory approach to arts is used in the training of...

•youth, social and health workers

•socio-cultural producers

•art managers

•development cooperation and activists

•teachers

Examplesof the

projects

Forum theatrein Finland and Estonia

Forum theater

in Finland and Estonia

What is forum theatre?

• created by Augusto Boal (Brazil) in early70´s

• inspired by Pedagogy of Liberation• interactive theatre: • audience comes to the stage to solve

conflicts through acting• can be also a workshop to explore the

issues of the participants• in Europe and America used by some

groups in schools and youth houses:• typical themes: bullying, sex, drugs,

family problems

Photo: Jussi Kareinen

Becoming Visibleart with asylum seekers

• some asylum seekers wait for their possible refugee status up to 4 years - insecurity is hard

• Aims of the project:• facilitate the employment of the asylum seekers• maintain the mental health during the process• create links to the surrounding society - improve

the image• develop the culture of the centers: participation

in cleaning, festivities, running of activities, planning

Celebration for Light - procession of lanterns is about to start

Kuuluvaks - participatory music making

Becoming visible activities...

• drama for learning Finnish

• personal future planning workshops

• forum theatre for conflict resolution

• celebratory events - Festival of Light

• workcamps at the farms

• music research - multicultural band

• outside visits, workshops etc.

Drama WayDrama - a way to social inclusion

Photo: Leena Jokinen

Photo: Leena Jokinen

Photo: Leena Jokinen

Photo: Leena Jokinen

Kullervo cuts the knife of his dead father in a stone in the bread...

Drama Way - national themes...• CATALONIA: young immigrants and prisoners

(participatory drama)

• ESTONIA: young people in the rapid change (forum theatre)

• FINLAND: prevention of substance abuse (Live role games, participatory drama)

• PORTUGAL: youth and problems of rural areas (Theatre-in-Education; forum theatre)

Links…

• www.tkk.utu.fi/dramaway/• www.ktol.fi/

becomingvisible• www.stadia.fi/• www.vatteater.ee• www.headlinestheatre.co

m (Canada)

Jouni Piekkari, Finland

Short biograph

Studies:* Candidate of Humanistic Sciences (1995), University of TampereSubjects: ethnomusicology, social psychology, development studies* Course of Journalism, Laajasalon opisto (1982-3)

Work experience:

Journalist work* Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (1982-3; 1987)* Finnish Broadcasting Company, radio music journalist (1984)

Teacher and course designer:* Full time teacher of applied drama (Turku Polytechnic) (1998-2001)* Applied drama and theatre continuing education courses in various Polytechnics, * Universities and other institutions (1994-)* Socio-cultural work courses, Seinäjoki Polytechnic (1997-)

Planning, implementing or consulting of participatory housing area art projects: in towns of Toijala, Nokia, Espoo, Rovaniemi, Kaarina, Turku, Tampere and Tallin (1995-2000)

Producer of various cultural exchange projects (some examples):* South-North Theatre workshop between Nordic and SADCC countries, Service Center for Development Cooperation (1990-91) * Finnish-Zambian Pamodzi –community theatre, exhibition, dance and information tour, Service center for development cooperation (KEPA) (1994)* Beural Dyoko Mbira group tour, Finnish Foreign Ministry/KEPA (1996)* 500 years of resistance – Capoeira tours, Service Center for Development cooperation (KEPA) * Vimbuza healing dance tour, Community theatre association NOW* Drama Way (Drama – a way to social inclusion) EU-training project, University of Turku* Näkyväks! – art project for integration of asylum seekers, Turku Polytechnic/ Finnish Red cross•Natya Chetana theatre (India) performance and workshop tour (2001)

International teaching experience:* Forum theatre training in Estonia, VAT theatre/Theatre Academy of Finland, (1998-9, 2003-4)* Finnish-Zambian theatre exchange project, Polytechnic of Turku, University of Zambia (2001)* Forum theatre workshop in Barcelona, Teatro La Naveva (2002)* workshops and debates in Natya Chetana Folk theatre festival, India (2001)•Forum theatre workshop in Portugal, BAAL 17 (2003)•Participatory drama workshop in Spain, Patothom (2004)* Labas! Lithuanian –Finnish drama exchange project (2004)

Other experience:* Conductor of ethnic music and dance workshops * Production on Finnish folk music and dance productions* Performer of Finnish, Balkan, Brazilian, Balinese and African music, dance or theatre productions in various contexts