Date: 16–25 May 2025
Location: Międzybrodzie Bialskie, Poland
Participants: Spain, Poland, Portugal, Italy – 7 per country (ages 18–30)
Language: English
🎨 About the Project
ART&SOUL was an Erasmus+ youth exchange focused on mental health, emotional awareness and creative expression through the arts. Set in the natural environment of southern Poland, the program provided a supportive and inclusive space where young people from across Europe could explore self-expression through painting, theatre, movement and body-based practices. The project aligned with EU youth objectives, focusing on well-being, inclusion, and intercultural learning.
Project Objectives
- Support youth mental health using non-formal, creative methods such as art and theatre
- Encourage emotional self-awareness, resilience, and interpersonal connection
- Facilitate inclusion and intercultural dialogue among young people from different backgrounds
- Create a safe and reflective environment for participants to explore their identities
🎭 Activities
- Visual expression workshops using intuitive painting and collaborative art creation
- Forum theatre and physical theatre sessions focused on real emotions and social reflection
- Daily reflection, emotional journaling and body-awareness exercises
- Storytelling sessions including kamishibai theatre and non-verbal expression
- Outdoor activities and mindfulness practices connected to nature
- Group creation of short video content reflecting personal and cultural identities
- Final public presentation: visual art exhibition and collective performance
Methodology
- Non-formal education principles with a focus on creativity and self-directed learning
- Experiential learning through practical workshops and group reflection
- Peer-to-peer learning and intercultural exchange
- Use of storytelling, visual tools and embodied expression to enhance understanding
Project Outcomes
- Improved emotional literacy and self-awareness among participants
- Strengthened intercultural competencies and group cooperation skills
- Creative outputs including collective art pieces, theatre scenes and self-made videos
- Increased capacity to express personal experiences and emotions through art
- Youthpass certificates recognizing gained skills and competencies
📹 Watch Our Final Video
This short video was created by participants of ART&SOUL – a creative reflection on their journey during the youth exchange. You can view all other group videos in the full playlist below.
Contact
Email: erasmus@neweurope.pl
Phone/WhatsApp: +48 888 959 840
Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE). Neither the European Union nor FRSE can be held responsible for them.