Re-CONNECT 2020 – Amateo’s digital Connect programme that ran 4 – 7 May, to replace the scheduled Brussels workshop (scheduled 20-22 March, before its cancellation due to Covid-19), saw the formation of three pioneer projects, designed to bring together partners and participants across borders, with the help of a 2.5k € pilot budget to develop and deliver their activities.
The Brussels programme would have included a series of interdisciplinary workshops for and led by young people, including folk dance and music (Slovenia led), spoken word (UK led) and performing arts (Germany) and we’re excited to award Pioneer Project funding to partnership representing these art-forms and blending traditional and contemporary creative vocabularies, technologies and themes. The jury of Juliane Lenssen (Das Letzte Kleinod, Germany, former Pioneer Project), Valentina Ducek (Croatia, former Amateo vice-president) and Kate Deans, (Creative Europe Desk UK/Creative Scotland) were impressed by the diversity of ideas and approaches responding to the theme of youth empowerment.
Next Outspoken Generation A spoken work collaboration between VZW Kuumba (BE), Next Generation Speaks (NL); planning a three-day residency and exchange at the beginning of 2021, inviting a mixed group of 16-25 year-olds to create and perform multi-lingual spoken word works (workshops will be conducted in English, producing verse in French, Dutch, English and the other native languages spoken by participants).
PerFANFA, PerFOLK, Perform! (triple P) Initiated and led by young people, from Belgium (FanfaKids), Germany (LABW), Slovenia (Folk Dance Group), with supporting organisations guiding their creative experimentation, sharing and social connections. The team plan to launch an ambassadors project development session in Spring 2021 with the pilot grant, leading to an eight day workshop in Summer, bringing together percussion, folklore dance and physical theatre to devise and perform a collaborative expressive work.
Rebels with a Cause A youth-led online music and video event, encouraging young peoples’ commentary on some of the big issues that the world is facing. Rebels with a Cause has already launched a call for international participation. The project brings together a number of partners across Europe; The House of Activity and Creativity (LT), OMF (NL) Národné osvetové centrum (SK), New Nordic Wave (NL), Noorpool Troupe (NL), VZW Kuumba (BE); to support learning throughout the process and produce collaborative outcomes as part of Make Music Day (21 June) and Make Movie Training.