FROM SCREEN TO SCENE

We want to help young people move from screen to ‘scene’, in other words, to rediscover welcoming public spaces and the skills to join, design and host them. On a deeper level, we have perceived that increasing anxiety that young people experience these days is linked to heavy, algorithmic social media use; overprotection offline that leaves teens with fewer chances to practise social skills in person; and the thinning out of everyday third places (libraries, cafés, small cinemas) that once made it easy to meet without spending a lot of money. If we treat our youth as fragile objects, who ought not to be challenged to apply themselves in the so-called real world, we shouldn’t be surprised that they grow up very vulnerable to the outside world.

Over 5-6 days in Lithuania, mixed groups (15–19) will learn by doing. Day 1 is for building trust and shared ground rules, with an arts-based reflection. Day 2 focuses on social media and isolation through a hands-on Feed Hygiene Lab (audit your feed, try algorithm tweaks, add friction to doom-scrolling, set a personal ‘screen to scene’ plan). Day 3 explores local third places with youth ‘audits’, a sports session in a park/stadium, a choir workshop, and Forum Theatre. Day 4 is a full-day of placemaking + service: youth will co-design and run pop-up ‘living rooms’ at a libraries/youth centres/cafes while also completing useful volunteer tasks. Day 5 is for sharing results with decision-makers.

We are looking for partners who can contribute where they shine: sending a motivated youth group; offering 1–2 practitioners (youth work, digital wellbeing, arts, placemaking, Forum Theatre) to help us set up the project and facilitate some of the activities.