The Arts and the Artists
The pandemic and all the measures implemented around the world limited access to culture that involved personal contact. This new reality had negative consequences for many artists who were unable to make art their profession. With our project, we set out to identify potential organisations, associations and artists in the different communities of each school who could help us develop six different arts: Bulgarian Folk Music, Greek Sculpture, Coral and Ceramics, Flamenco, Karagöz-Hacivat Shadow Play and the Circus Arts. On this page, you can get to know the wonderful artists and organisations that helped us implement the project.
Bulgarian Ensemble "Dunav"
Ensemble for folk songs and dances "Dunav", established in the town of Vidin, was created in 1971. The main art principle in the Vidin Ensemble is the preservation of the indigenous characteristics of the musical folklore of the north-western Bulgaria.
In its rich and various programme, Bulgarian ensemble "Dunav" also includes music, songs and dances from other folklore regions in Bulgaria, which attributes to the whole variety and attractiveness of its shows. The dances, the songs, the instruments, combined with the beautiful costumes, make the concerts unforgettable for the spectators. Our project established a partnership with the artistic group, which resulted in weekly classes being held in the school context, promoted by the different artists.
Department of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Faculty of Fine Arts opened in the school year 1984/1985 and is located in the city center of Thessaloniki. The cooperation with the Fine Arts School allowed our students to learn about the sculpture history in Greece during the centuries and also learn to make sculptures from different materials with many different techniques. Sculptures were made from soap, paper, gypsy’s, marble, plasticine, plastic and recycled materials. Students participated in many workshops at the faculty and at school.
“Agostino Pepoli” Museum
The Museo Regionale “Agostino Pepoli” is located in Trapani. The Museum includes: paintings, with a broad representation of artistic culture in western Sicily between the 13th and 19th centuries; sculptures, including those of the Gaginesque school; nativity scenes of Trapani craftsmanship, characterized by manufacturing in Wood, Canvas and Glue; goldsmith's shop, with jewels belonging to the treasury of the Madonna of Trapani, silverware from the Trapani tradition and above all some very valuable works in coral, a material which had an important production and processing center in Trapani, so much so that it became a peculiarity of local craftsmanship; sacred vestments, majolica, among which the floors depicting tuna fishing stand out, a very important productive activity in the area; relics of the Risorgimento, evidence of the province's participation in the Unification of Italy. This partnership has allowed us to experiment with the creation of ornaments that imitate coral, recreating works of art with pasta and plasticine from another era.
The Art Gallery “Leonardo da Vinci”
The Art Gallery “Leonardo da Vinci” of the artist Giovanna Colomba reproduces colours and patterns of the sicilian tradition like “teste di moro”, fruits and plants of Siciliy on ceramic tiles, mugs, majolica cutting boards etc. This wonderful artist welcomed us and carried out workshops related with traditional ceramics and painting.
Fiorenza Platimiro Rosso Corallo
Platimiro Fiorenza is the last Sicilian Master of Coral and UNESCO living treasure. Rosso Corallo Jewelry has been producing wonderful handcrafted creations since 1921 using high quality raw materials, such as precious stones, ivory, silver, gold, pearls and coral. The ancient jewelry shop, managed by the Fiorenza family, has handed down an artisan tradition capable of embellishing each fine jewelry item through precise and meticulous work. This fascinating artist opened the doors of his gallery and gave us interviews and a tour of his beautiful pieces of art
Castañuelas Filigrana
This old craft shop located in the city center of Seville sells musical instruments related to flamenco. It was an important partnership for the students to get to know and experiment rhythmic patterns with the castanets used in many Flamenco performances.
Ana Ruiberriz, Ernesto Ojeda Aroca and Maria del Mar Berlanga
Flamenco was explored on a weekly basis thanks to close partnerships with different independent artists. With the help of Ana Ruiberriz (singer and dancer), Ernesto Ojeda Aroca (singer) and Maria del Mar Berlanga (drums and dancer), it was possible to integrate workshops about singing, sevillanas dance, typical drums, castañuelas, and handmade constructions of abanicos and flowers into the weekly music and arts classes. Also a special thank you to the parents that collaborated in the different workshops.
Deniz Özgökbel
Deniz Özgökbel is an artist, based in Izmir, owner of the Performing Arts Karagöz-Hacivat and Puppet House. He's a renowned puppeteer that tries to ensure that the Karagöz art is not only among the history books but also in its former respected and widespread position in the traditional Turkish theater. His collaboration in this project was very important, as it allowed students from different countries to get to know Ottoman history and culture, but also the technical aspects associated with shadow theater.
Rodolfo Correia
Rodolfo Correia is a circus arts teacher based in Vila Nova de Famalicão. He has plenty of experience in coordinating and dynamising projects that connect the arts with children and young people at risk of social exclusion. Through the partnership with this artist, the students involved in the project had weekly circus arts classes and created a final show called "The Arts Ring" Circus Show based on the Route of Magellan, which took place during the first mobility of the project.
Fundação Castro Alves
The Castro Alves Foundation, created in 1991 and located in the city of Vila Nova de Famalicão, is home to an artistic ceramics school, with an excellent team of artisans who develop the artistic creation of ceramic pieces for exhibitions and for sale. One of its specialities is its collaboration with schools, which has enabled students to take part in clay workshops and the creation of ceramics.
Francisca Durão
Francisca Durão is a flamenco artist based in Porto. At the age of six she began taking classical ballet classes and later trained other dance styles, but it was in flamenco that she found the greatest possibility of expression through her dancing. She currently teaches ballet, flamenco and Argentine tango at different academies in the north of Portugal. She also has experience working with disadvantaged communities under social integration programmes. We learnt about her fascinating work through dance workshops and interviews conducted by the students.
Fundação Cupertino de Miranda
The Cupertino de Miranda Foundation is located in the city of Vila Nova de Famalicão. It consists of a museum, a library and an auditorium, in order to develop activities to promote and disseminate cultural initiatives in different areas of expression. Home to works linked to the surrealist movement, the foundation has allowed students to do visits and take part in workshops related to painting.
