Kaleidoscope
Harnessing Art-based Engagement to Empower Young Migrants
In February 2025, EDUCULT (Austria) entered into a cooperation partnership with Visual Voices (Cyprus), Skills Elevation FHB (Germany), ALO Ísland (Iceland), Future in Perspective Ltd (Ireland) and E. C. S. H. (Portugal) for an Erasmus+ project ‘Kaleidoscope – Harnessing Art-based Engagement to Empower Young Migrants’.
Bridging Communities Through Art & Expression
Across Europe, many young people face challenges of isolation, trauma, and identity struggles. With over 117.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, fostering emotional healing and social integration has never been more crucial. This project aims to tackle the pressing issues of social isolation and integration among young people with diverse cultural backgrounds, including those with lived migration experiences.
The project will build on the results of the award-winning Young Thespians project, and aims to provide youth with safe, inclusive, and imaginative spaces to explore identity, process traumatic experiences, and build meaningful relationships in their (new) communities.
A Creative Approach to Social Cohesion
Over the course of 24 months, all partners will combine their experiences and expertise in research and art-based engagement to:
- Develop the ABEE (Art-Based Engagement Ethnography) Training Programme to strengthen youth workers’ skills in cultural competence and trauma-informed practices.
- Co-create an Arts Toolkit, shaped by the input of youth from diverse cultural backgrounds, offering non-formal learning methods in visual arts, music, drama, and creative writing.
- Produce Curators Guides to empower young people with leadership and event-planning expertise.
- Organise Kaleidoscope Festivals in Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and Portugal, where participants can showcase their artistic expressions and spark cross-cultural dialogue.
- Host a transnational training event in Cyprus, bringing together youth workers to share best practices and create a strong support network for newcomer youth.
A European Collaboration with Local Impact
Kaleidoscope aims to build bridges between newly arrived and long-established communities by championing cultural exchange and mutual understanding. By emphasising co-creation and participation, the project nurtures the creative talents of youth while strengthening social cohesion across Europe.
Activities will run until 2027, taking place in each partner country and culminating in vibrant local festivals and a European conference in Vienna, that highlight the beauty and diversity of cross-cultural youth experiences.
Join the Journey
For updates, inquiries, or to participate in upcoming project activities, visit:
Kaleidoscope on its website, Facebook or Instagram
Or join our mailing list.
The project is supported by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
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 OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor OeAD-GmbH can be held responsible for them. Project No.: 2024-2-AT01-KA220-YOU-000292245
