Easy access to the full reasearch reports in PDF format by clicking the images.
Art as a Tool
The research study was created by Bennyé D. Austring, Pernille Welent Sørensen and Mikkel Snorre Wilms Boysen and was first presented at the Exchanges for All anual meeting in 2024 in Nykøbing, Denmark.
A comparative research study on international art-based worksshop formates conducted by international artists with 9th grade students from schools in countries around the Baltic Sea.
The comparative analysis:
Is it possible to compare apples with oranges? Like Exchanges for All and Reach Out they have a lot in common, but obvious differences, too. The viewpoint of the researcher is also a critical factor. Here, when analyzing the two formats, our intention is to produce a research-based study illuminating the relationships between the two workshop designs. In this perspective, the primary outcome is not an answer to the question “which format is the best?”, rather “under what circumstances is one or the other format the optimal solution”?
Reach Out 2019-20 – Research Report
“Reach Out” was a strategic partnership with financial support from EU-program “Erasmus+”. It was basically a research-project, which examined the outcomes from having workshops in school with artists from another country.
Researchers from University College Absalon (DK) looked at how these workshops are influencing on wellbeing and learning-motivation. Results were presented 6.10.2020 at an online conference hosted by Klaipeda Education Department and will also be the topic for a conference in Wejherowo Centrum Kultury on Thursday 6th May 2021.
“Reach Out” was coordinated by Stubbekøbing School and involved one more school in Guldborgsund Municipality + Klaipeda Sendvario Progymnasium (LT) & Wejherowo School no.1 (PL).
The 3 artists: musician Andy Penny (UK), dancer & choreographer Pako (PT and visual artists Daniela Stoian (RO) worked 3 times at 2 schools in Guldborgsund Municipality (DK), Klaipeda Sendvario Progymnasium (LT) and Wejherowo School no. 1 (PL).
“The artists have many different techniques and methods that they intentionally applied in order to promote motivation and inclusion among the students. Firstly, they all attempted to build up a sense of group identity, doing things together and let everyone feel that they were important. Secondly, they tried to implement the students’ skills, initiatives and ideas in the artworks and performances, which they created together. Thirdly, they attempted to make the group responsible for the art works and performances and make themselves dispensable. Fourthly, they tried to show everyone that it was okay to make mistakes and they encouraged the students to dare to experiment and try out new things. Fifth, they always focused on the students’ progress, successes and achievements rather than their failures. Sixth, they tried to approach the children with an open mind without prejudices or specific expectations. Seventh, they attempted to build up a personalrelationship with every single student. Eighth, they worked with body and hands in art-based processes in which verbal communication was not mandatory. Besides all of this, the artists naturally applied different specific approaches related to their different personalities and the different art forms they represent.” Reach Out Report, page 30.
Reach Out Video
Video artist Daniela Stoian has also done a lot of video documentation throughout the entire procces and edited this video to accompany and support the research.
Music for the video provided by:
Mattia Vendu, Andy Penny, Pako Soul Kool, Booma.
International Exchanges as a Learning Tool
“International Exchanges as a Learning Tool” came in January 2016, and it was presented by Bennyé Austring from University College Zealand durring the conference on “Learning-Outcome from participating in an art-based, international youth-exchanges” at Kulturfabrikken, Nykøbing F, Denmark.