ART&SOUL – Painting. Theatre. Emotions. You.

About the project

“ART&SOUL – Painting. Theatre. Emotions. You.” was an international youth exchange carried out under the Erasmus+ programme. Its aim was to support young people’s emotional well-being through art, creative expression, and intercultural connection. The project took place in Międzybrodzie Bialskie – a quiet village nestled between the Beskid Mountains and a lake in southern Poland – and brought together young people from Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Throughout the 10-day programme, participants took part in a variety of workshops based on art therapy, intuitive painting, forum theatre, body and breath awareness, mindfulness in nature, and emotional journaling. Activities were held both indoors and outdoors – by the lake, in the forest, around the campfire. The project focused on authenticity, empathy, emotional reflection, and the value of slowing down.

Evenings were dedicated to intercultural nights, where each national team shared the artistic and cultural traditions of their country – from Portuguese fado and Spanish flamenco to Polish folk patterns and Italian classical art. No prior artistic experience was required – only openness, curiosity, and a willingness to explore and connect.

Effects of the project

The main outcomes of the ART&SOUL project were a series of short artistic films and a collaborative painting, created by participants during the final phase of the exchange. Over several days, the group worked in international teams to combine visual storytelling, movement, symbolism, and emotion into meaningful creations. The results were presented during a final exhibition and performance evening, where guests and peers were invited to witness the journey.

The films captured deeply personal and symbolic themes – loneliness, hope, emotional connection, and vulnerability. The large collective painting reflected the group's shared experience: a transformation from emotional distance to openness and belonging. The aim was not technical perfection but honest, collaborative expression of emotions through art.

More than anything, the real impact of the project was the inner transformation of its participants. They gained confidence in expressing emotions, developed emotional awareness, experienced intercultural dialogue, and formed genuine, trust-based relationships.

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