12.09.2017 eaea grundtvig award 2017

Creative classes enabling learning in Hungary

EAEA GRUNDTVIG AWARD 2017. Believing that creative art courses can benefit adult learners, the Kistarcsa Cultural Association developed mosaics and ceramics courses for pensioners and mother with young children.

“In the case of aging adults the opportunity of lifelong learning is prioritised in order to maintain intellectual and physical health. In the case of younger participants one of the goals was to provide an alternative way of income,” Ferenc Kereszti elaborates the motivation behind the choosing of the target groups.

The project included international exchange and the learners got the opportunity to get to know more about the local methods of making ceramics and mosaics.

“Our goal was to make the community more vivid, to have the participants become active members of their community.”

Visibility through public artwork

The project didn’t create art just inside classrooms but also wanted to bring it to public places. Thus the learners designed a stone mosaic to be put in the centre of the town. After the authorization from the local government, students created a mosaic mandala of 3,5 metres in diameter in the centre of Kistarcsa in Hungary.

Two years after the beginning of the project, the most active learners now form a real community. International exchange and meetings have given participants the chance to become familiar with the different cultures of the partner countries. Thanks to the active visibility in the local community, the adult learners of the course have become well known in the town.

“As everybody knows the artists behind the mosaic are not professional artists, we hope it can inspire others to take part in similar courses in the future,” Ferenc Kereszti concludes.

The project: Kistarcsa Cultural Association
  • Award category: European projects (Hungary)
  • Learner target group: Pensioners, mothers with small children
  • Innovative practice: Cooperation between the local community and adult learners

Project coordinator

Project partners

  • DIKEPAP, KIKE, La Meridiana

Resources

The article series shares good practices on engaging new learners by introducing the nominees of the EAEA Grundtvig Award 2017.

Text: Lou-Andréa PinsonPhotos: Kistarcsa Cultural Association

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