When Cross-Art Collaboration Among Youth Meets Human Rights
In the summer of 2019, the intercultural Erasmus+ youth project humARTS: Creatively Interpreting Human Rights took place from July 26 to August 9 in Antalya, Turkey. The project marked the 70th anniversary of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and created a unique platform for young people aged 18-25 to explore and interpret human rights through the creative world of art.
Denmark contributed five young musicians, while England sent five actors from Central Youth Theatre. Alongside 20 Turkish participants, including 15 local refugees, the young artists came together to express their creativity through music, theater, spoken word, and traditional paper marbling. The project focused on three specific articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which were creatively interpreted through a series of intensive workshops.
Over the two weeks, a special bridge between cultures emerged. Through shared creative processes, barriers were broken down, and the young participants developed original artistic material that culminated in an impressive final performance in Antalya. This official presentation combined elements from various art forms, showcasing the participants’ personal and collective interpretations of human rights.
The entire project was documented in a CPH:DOX film titled I Wish I Was A Paper Plane (2021), directed by Camille Bildsøe. The documentary captured the creative journey and the deep engagement of the young participants in working with human rights through art. The film was later screened at the CPH:DOX 2020 Film Festival, celebrating the sense of community and innovation fostered by humARTS.
The project stood as a powerful example of how art can unite young people from different backgrounds, giving them a voice to explore and express universal values across borders.
About the Project
Our Role: Lead partner
Budget: €36,546.00
Duration: 2019
30 young workshop participants from England, Denmark, and Turkey, including refugees from Syria.
Key outcome: A documentary film by Camille Bildsøe, I Wish I Was A Paper Plane (2021), premiered at CPH:DOX 2020 for an international audience.
Partners
Den Selvejende Institution Swinging Europe (DSI SE) (Lead Partner)
Central Youth Theatre (UK) (Partner)
BAKYARD (Turkey) (Partner)
Budget & Funding
humARTS: Creatively Interpreting Human Rights was supported by Erasmus+, the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces’ fund for nonprofit cultural projects, and the Roskilde Foundation.
