START ACTING UP: long-term blended course on applied theatre for youth participation

"Start Acting Up!" is a long-term project addressing and exploring theatre as a tool for youth participation and a vehicle for political change and social identity. It aims to build a platform for networking, exchange of practice and identifying and understanding the opportunities for young people to be engaged positively in the political landscape and be active and responsible citizens.

The project is a blended learning pathway which foresees:

• a 9-days online course combining training and contact making elements, which will run between the 14th and the 30th of June 2021;
• a local practice phase during which to implement non-formal education activities within one's own target communities, while receiving both peer support and coaching from the training team;
• a 8-days residential course combining training and study visit elements, currently scheduled to take place in Sermugnano, a small village in central Italy, from the 24th to the 31st of October 2021 (travel days included).

OBJECTIVES

• To explore the political context and benefits of using theatre as a tool for participation, political education, awareness and for dealing with radicalisation;
• To reach a greater understanding of the cultural differences of youth participation and theatre approaches when working with young people;
• To highlight, share and showcase a range of effective approaches, practises and experiences of civic engagement with each other;
• To experiment and apply learning and inspiration through local initiatives and actions while experiencing peer and facilitated support;
• To network locally, nationally and internationally with other practitioners working with young people through theatre and performance;
• To identify collaborative opportunities for practice development of political theatre and youth participation within the framework of Erasmus+;

WHO CAN APPLY?

The project is designed for youth workers, youth leaders and all those volunteers and professionals supporting theatre/performance/art based initiatives who:

• have a genuine commitment to fully participate to all the phases of the project (meaning both the online and residential course, the local practice phase, plus preparation and dissemination);
• have direct contact with a group of young people and are willing to deliver an educational activity at the local level;
• are ready and willing to explore and share intercultural differences, knowledge, skills and experiences and try new approaches;
• have a good working level of English;
• are at least 18 years old.

ONLINE COURSE AGENDA

The online course experience will consist of interactive sessions, presentations, and exploration of the topic of the project using different online tools (both in plenary and in small groups), according to the following agenda:

• 14th of June 2021, Monday, 9:30-12:30
• 15th of June 2021, Tuesday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-17:30 | 20:00-22:00 (optional)
• 16th of June 2021, Wednesday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-15:30
• 21st of June 2021, Monday, 9:30-12:30
• 22nd of June 2021, Tuesday, 9:30-12:30 | 20:00-22:00 (optional)
• 23rd of June 2021, Wednesday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-15:30
• 28th of June 2021, Monday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-17:30
• 29th of June 2021, Tuesday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-17:30 | 20:00-22:00 (optional)
• 30th of June 2021, Wednesday, 9:30-12:30 | 14:30-17:30

It is advised to mark these dates and times to one's own personal calendar agenda when applying.

THE TRAINING TEAM

The training team comes from rich and diverse backgrounds and, beside a practical and extensive experience in the field of youth work and training, offers and combines a wide expertise in theatre, improvisation, comedy, storytelling, music and social & creative community work:

• Carmine Rodi Falanga (Italy/ Czech Republic)
• Buzz Bury (UK)
• Mafalda Morganti (Italy)