Young curator workshop in collaboration with DKS Troms and Finnmark

Last year, we started a collaboration with the Cultural Rucksack in Troms and Finnmark on young curator workshops. They wanted greater student participation in the selection of the repertoire that will tour the Cultural Rucksack in the county, and approached us if we had any tips.

In the EU project TEEN, this was precisely one of the things we worked on, and for which we developed a tool to implement, a "co-programming workshop".

The aim of the workshop was that it should be fun, you didn't need much prior knowledge of performing arts or art, everyone could participate on equal terms even if it varied how the young people liked to express themselves, and not least it should be a real process.

With this methodology, consensus can be created between children and young people, teachers and organizers. Beforehand, the participants have seen a given number of performances or art productions, a minimum of three, and everyone must follow the same rules; both young people and adults. Over the course of two hours, they work together in various exercises, both physical, verbal and written, and they cast their votes digitally.

Last year, the workshop was conducted with two middle school classes in performing arts and music. This year, DKS Troms og Finnmark wanted to test the methodology on other art forms as well, and film and visual arts were added. There was also a greater range in the age of the classes that participated, from middle school to upper secondary school, as well as the size of the groups.

The feedback has been good, both from teachers and students, and everyone feels they get to work with the selection in a good way.

• Are you interested in knowing more? Get in touch with us, and also read about the methodology at TEENTheatrenetwork.eu.
• Would you be interested in conducting such a workshop? Get in touch, we are happy to collaborate.