STORIES AND LANDSCAPES
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Engagement with personal and collective stories through the theme of 'landscape/nature', emphasising the empowering aspects of landscape. Getting to know each other by sharing personal stories.
KEYWORDS
museum visit
safe space
comfort
relax
art
inspiration
discovery
introduction
DURATION
2 hours
SKILLS
storytelling
listening
empathy
visual skills
PREPARATION
It is highly recommended that the trainer is assisted by a museum staff member use an audio guide, or familiarizes themselves with the works in the exhibition and its highlights before the workshop. The focus will then be on the areas that best fit the theme of the planned workshop. The trainer should be updated about the theme of the exhibition. If the trainer is working with a museum assistant, the workshop plans should be discussed in detail beforehand.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Several A5 cards with pictures of landscapes and pictures of clothes for inspiration. They can be futuristic, utopian, fictional or real landscapes, landscapes from different continents, fairy-tale landscapes, etc.
Color pencils
A5 paper
DESCRIPTION
Museum Visit and Selection of Images (Blended Activity): - Accompany the participants to the chosen museum and introduce them to the activity. - Instruct them to select an image of nature or landscape during their museum visit.
Associations and Memories: Back in the Training Room: - Prompt participants to reflect on the associations and memories evoked by their chosen picture. Encourage them to generate personal associations and/or narratives. - Allow participants to share their stories and associations.
Visualization of Own Memories: - Invite participants to close their eyes and recall a landscape from their memory associated with positive, empowering experiences. Offer guiding questions such as: Where is this place? What do you see there—trees, mountains, or a desert? Is it warm or cold? What does it smell like? What sounds do you hear? What colors dominate the landscape? Are there other people or animals present? Are there any structures?
Drawing the Memory: - Provide participants with paper and pens and instruct them to illustrate their memory.
Drawing in Pairs: - Once everyone has completed their drawings, have participants pair up. - Distribute a red pen to each pair. - Encourage partners to describe their drawings to each other and ask questions. If new information emerges during the discussion that is not represented in the drawing, participants can add it using the red pen.
Sharing in the Large Group: - Gather all participants together and invite them to share their drawings and the details they remembered from the questions. This step offers a deeper understanding of the diverse ways in which landscapes can evoke personal strength, comfort, and inspiration.
BLENDED ELEMENTS/TUTORIAL
Parts of the activities realised in the museum can be done individually.
TIPS AND RECOMMANDATIONS
Record the stories for future reference and discussion. Museum exhibitions on any topic can serve as inspiration for the project. It is essential that the theme of the exhibition aligns with the interests of the entire group. If a visit to the museum is not feasible for any reason, pictures, images, or videos can be utilized as an alternative and presented to the participants in a room that best suits the theme.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Participants share meaningful stories and reflect on memories. Sharing and identifying common feelings fosters a sense of security and peace among participants. With the assistance of a facilitator/artist, participants generate an idea for a collaborative project inspired by the workshops.
