The ArtEMi workshops

Here you can find descriptions, photos and reflections from some of the workshops carried out, to give you some ideas on how participants received the workshops, what the facilitators observed and what adaptations might be needed in your own context. Some activities might share the same name, yet the reflections differ, as each one has been implemented with different groups.

This information is intended for inspiration by gaining insights on the information that partners had before and after implementing the workshops. For more detailed information on the activities carried out, please check the “Guides” and “Activities” pages.

You can use the comment section to ask questions and interact with the project team and other users.

insights from different workshops

TYPE OF ACTIVITY

Photowalk

The things highlighted during the photo walks: contrasts in neighbourhoods, upcycling elements (using old factories for new purposes), modern and old side by side, each person leaves their work even after death, archaeological sites and industrialisation, destruction and change, as it happens in real life. One participant said: “all bad and all good form the city, and I learned to accept it as it is”.

One of the workshops took place in a location which is close to the city and the natural environment. Participants enjoyed the hike and found it very fulfilling and energising. Some individuals admitted they always wanted to go up the hills but had no company and were uneasy about going on their own. The facilitator observed that the group hike enriches the experience of living in Athens, showing possibilities of active leisure and outdoors activities.

One of the workshops had a main theme that revolved around motivation and many interesting elements emerged from this one. Most participants took group photos or photos of their family to represent the theme of motivation, reflecting the importance of community, while others took pictures of flowers growing between the stones. One participant in particular, a mother of four children, made the metaphor of seizing the new life in Athens like the flower that strives to grow between the rocks. Also, a number of the participants concluded that it is important not to look up the hill and say that you cannot manage it, the importance lies in taking small steps.

The photos reflect creative, vivid, and unique elements of the city, and some of the images are connected to the home country. The participants pictured the city as they see it after living there for a while. The feeling that the stay in the city is temporary and the desire to return was evident throughout all of the workshops.

Overall, the participants were happy to be together, share the tasks and learn new things.

The facilitator observed that it is more challenging to manage the workshop with the participation of more individuals. As Nataliya said: “working with a big group of people, it is harder to make people share, so this part doesn’t go deep, mostly concentrated on exciting new views, sunset, nature, buildings and stories”. Nevertheless, as Nataliya mentions: “the cosy and inspiring discussion at the end made people want to take the initiative and organise other similar gatherings”.

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Tree of life

The workshop was implemented with a diverse group of 12 women, which included one facilitator and three supporters. Among them, two were Swedish, while the rest hailed from different countries, such as Spain, Canada, Russia, Türkiye, the UK, and more. Employment statuses varied, and some expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs. Notably, a few had Swedish partners. Despite the diversity, a common thread emerged as many felt uncomfortable speaking Swedish. The age range spanned from 20 to 45 years old, providing a broad spectrum of experiences and perspectives. The group’s dynamic, shaped by their varied backgrounds and ages, contributed to the richness and depth of the workshop’s implementation.

The workshop, spanning two hours from 14:00 to 16:00, followed a structured methodology designed to foster self-expression and mutual understanding among the diverse group of 12 women. The session commenced with a self-introduction phase, allowing each participant to share a glimpse of their background. Following this, the facilitator introduced the project and outlined the objectives of the workshop. The main activity, titled “The Tree of Life,” invited women to visually represent various aspects of their lives on an illustrative tree. This hands-on approach allowed for personal expression, as participants painted and used colours to design their individual trees.

The subsequent phase involved sharing and listening to each other’s stories portrayed through their unique trees. This exchange provided a platform for discussing life’s hardships and the strategies employed to overcome them. A small group discussion ensued, delving into cultural differences and addressing the challenges faced in Sweden, followed by collective reflections on ways to overcome these challenges and enhance well-being.

The workshop concluded with an invitation to the next session, fostering a sense of continuity and community engagement. This methodology aimed to create a supportive environment for open dialogue, self-reflection, and shared experiences among the participants.

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Women’s hands

The “Women’s Hands” workshop was designed for women of all ages, cultures, and ethnicities, promoting social inclusion through manual activities using recycling materials and collective autobiographical storytelling. Combining Art Therapy and storytelling, the workshop aimed to develop creativity, self-esteem, and empowerment among participants. Six sessions were planned, each divided into two phases: one for getting to know each other and sharing personal stories, and one for artistic creation led by an Art Teacher. Required materials included fabric scraps, buttons, colors, and artistic tools.

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Foods of the world

Our Food of the World cooking workshop was a delightful journey through diverse cuisines. Participants had the opportunity to learn the secrets behind iconic dishes from around the globe. The workshop was not only educational but also a fun and interactive experience, fostering a love for cooking and cultural exchange.

handicrafts for vocational orientation

Autobiographical Writing

The autobiographical writing workshop by SMP and DUN guided participants through a journey of self-awareness by retrieving personal memories. Aimed at adults aged 25 and above, the workshop used autobiographical methodologies for personal growth, analyzing current identity, past experiences, and future dreams. The sessions, with a maximum of 16 participants, were held weekly for six sessions of two hours each. Required materials included a computer, a projector, notebooks, writing materials and sensory boxes.

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Storytelling

The participants were happy to be together, share their thoughts and feelings and discover a new way to express themselves. At the beginning of the activity, they were really hesitant and intrigued by it, but after a while, they managed to open up and reflect on their feelings and their daily habits. The item they chose was something they often used to make them relax, something that had emotional value, or something that reflected a part of themselves they liked and felt most proud of.

More specifically, one of the women has chosen a dress. Her text expressed so much love for herself, her body and her personality. It was a great insight, as the woman experienced three years of psychotherapy and hardship.

The facilitator observed that, generally, the personal items “treated” their owners with much love and respect. The workshop was very fulfilling for everyone.

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Poetry

The facilitator observed that the participants expressed some sad and gloomy feelings, like loneliness, homesickness, etc., and it was important not to let them exit the workshop with these feelings. So, the participants were asked to express their hope and give advice to themselves. Even though among the different words given by the participants, there were a lot of negative words, all the poems had a positive mood, they were very empowering and full of love. Overall, the exercise was very valuable in enhancing creative skills and demonstrating the ability of each participant to work well under pressure. It also gave a very good stress relief and team-building effect.

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a letter from a hero

Some of the observations of the facilitator indicated that:

Participants felt related to the author’s story, they actively asked questions and expressed their own thoughts on life in Greece, social adjustment and self-fulfilment
During the reading experience, participants shared a big part of their lives, preferences, and choices.
For “the letter from a writer/character” exercise, some participants took it very profoundly, and the process triggered some points which they needed to work on later.
Some of the participants took this as a chance to “communicate” with their favourite writer, to invite a very dear part of themselves on a date.

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Postcard for yourself

The workshop allowed the participants to think about next year and make a wish for themselves. Individuals usually draw/write and send postcards to someone else, but now they were explicitly asked to make it for themselves. It was unusual for the adults to think about what they wanted to wish to themselves, and they faced difficulties expressing their minds freely.

On the other hand, the children were actively involved. For them, describing their wishes and the process of drawing the specific images was also unusual but mainly fun.

Overall, it was a chance for adult women to feel like kids and think of their wishes and desires for a change, as they always put their children’s wishes first. Not all the women wanted to open up, but some shared their strong wish for peace in Ukraine and holidays among the whole family.

The fact that the participants, mothers and grandmothers, had the opportunity to bring their children and grandchildren with them and engage them in activities alongside them was extremely helpful, as in a different case, they wouldn’t be able to participate at all.

autobiographical

Creating a Fantasy City

The facilitator mentions: “At first, I mistakenly asked the participants to imagine a place where they would like to be after the war ended. But everyone wanted to be back home in Ukraine, so I had to change it to an imaginary city as an ‘escape room’ for them. I emphasised that the city can have fantasy elements, making each story more rich and imaginative.”

All participants agreed on the power of the fantasy genre to describe difficult things in a simple and symbolic way.

Also, the facilitator observed that, during the reflection process, most people expressed the desire to write more and remain at the workshop for more hours. In contrast, some of them were not able to express themselves easily and had to reach the end of the activity to be able to do so.

Overall, the activities made the women feel proud of themselves, as they did an excellent job in imaging and writing, they felt creative and emotionally relieved.

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River of life / bio-storytelling

The facilitator noticed that it was difficult for the participants to speak about themselves; they mainly emphasised their good inner qualities. Some of them didn’t feel comfortable sharing facts about their lives, but they changed their mind after realising that all life stories and experiences were similar. The fact that all of the participants were good listeners and created a safe space for everyone to share their experiences helped everyone open up. Only one participant refused to share facts about her life.

Overall, the experience was quite deep, and the process of sharing unfolded some hidden emotions participants needed to talk about but did not always have a listener.

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Senses (creative writing)

The facilitator noticed that it is crucial to make time both for the creative process, going through multiple exercises (3 to 5 creative writing exercises) and the presentation and discussion part.

In general, participants’ stories reflected many personal experiences, good and bad, and the supportive atmosphere cultivated inside the group helped keep an emotional balance.

Participants noticed that their group is a supportive community, a safe space to express themselves freely and gain self-confidence.

Participants’ stories and brief descriptions were amusingly creative and well-made, although none had any previous creative writing experience.

One participant compared the workshop to actual psychological therapy, as the discussion helped her to re-estimate her position and role in her family.

Overall, participants noticed that the workshop is relaxing and gives them time for themselves that they cannot get at home, as it helps them “to be present in the moment.”

figurative arts

Fairy tale therapy

The workshop was co-led with the contribution of a psychologist and art therapist, who introduced the metaphorical cards to the workshop. Metaphorical or therapeutic cards are a tool used in counselling, therapy, coaching, and self-reflection to facilitate communication, self-expression, and exploration of emotions, thoughts, and experiences. These cards typically consist of images, symbols, or words that represent different concepts, feelings, or situations. Each card is designed to evoke specific thoughts or emotions and can be used to prompt discussions, explore personal narratives, gain insights, or foster creative thinking.

The chosen fairy tale was Cinderella as it is a popular fairy tale and well-known by all the participants.

Having a therapist at the session helped a lot, as she contributed actively to making the space safer and allowed the participants to go deeper in the reflection process. Metaphorical cards at first confused the participants, but they were a crucial addition to the fairytale therapy technique.

The facilitator observed that there were some obstacles in achieving some of the objectives of the workshop, as the participants were of different age groups and backgrounds. For example, an older lady expressed the conviction that she was not at all able to write anything, so the rest of the group offered to help her with ideas that resonated with her (give 5 pieces of advice to the newlywed Cinderella and Prince). The lady immediately felt involved and relieved, but her negativity created a barrier for other participants to express themselves freely.

Participants chose to write what happened before or after the actual Cinderella story, the background of the fairy and the life of the new couple (Cinderella and Prince), and not to make any changes to the actual fairy tale.

One lady relieved the fear she felt when getting married to her partner 18 years ago and decided to write about it and explain that the formality of marriage doesn’t destroy the couple.

One of the participants came to the workshop just to have fun, and at the end of the process, she felt safe enough to admit that she faces difficulties with her mental state and that she received the support she needed from the group and possible answers to her untold questions.

The same claimed some of the other participants too.

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Self-portrait

Most of the participants drew nostalgic pictures of their homeland, expressing their hope for peace and for returning home. A participant drew an impressive picture of a girl watching the missiles flying behind her window with indifference. It emphasises the point: “When war becomes a habit, it terrifies even more”.

Some of the participants were not mentally ready for this activity but eagerly participated. While sharing, one lady started crying as she realised she does so many things for others and not much for herself. Also, she was touched when other participants highlighted her self-dedication and generosity.

A psychologist happened to be present as a participant, and she also helped moderate the activity, asked questions, and noted that the participants needed to participate in these kinds of workshops and feel safe to reflect and express their feelings among peers.

In addition, some participants came up with the idea to not only share good traits about themselves but also negative ones and discuss them (maybe they are not actually negative?). On the contrary, other participants said they didn’t want to concentrate on the negativity.

Overall, participants admitted that the help of a psychotherapist is needed and these kinds of workshops bring relief and the feeling of fulfilment to them.

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Self-introduction through life stories

The facilitator expressed that, during the first workshop, she gained valuable insights on how to structure similar seminars in the future. Notably, she realised that while the first two questions focused on participants’ past experiences, the subsequent questions were oriented towards their future aspirations. This distinction helped her understand how to balance reflective and forward-looking activities.

In addition, throughout the session, she shared numerous personal examples and stories from others about self-presentation and job interviews. This approach seemed to resonate well with the participants, as it provided concrete illustrations of the concepts they discussed.

Interestingly, they ended up spending an additional hour talking about the intricacies of job interviews. This extended discussion highlighted the participants’ interest in the topic and their desire for practical, detailed guidance.

Moreover, the facilitator observed that some participants found it easier to express themselves verbally rather than through writing. For instance, one lady could not articulate her childhood dream job and chose to listen instead, but she actively engaged in the subsequent discussions. This flexibility in participation methods proved beneficial for all. Also, one participant remarked that the workshop allowed her to reflect deeply and gain clarity on her true aspirations. Two younger participants expressed that the workshop was a fascinating new experience. One of them even mentioned that she plans to use the techniques learned to write a motivation letter for her college application next year.

Finally, based on feedback and observations, the facilitator made adjustments to improve the structure of the workshop. The second session was more organised and refined, allowing the facilitator to convey the same information more effectively.

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Creative writing- setting limits, using feelings, reflecting

The facilitator noticed that some of the participants employed vivid metaphors in their writing, which significantly enhanced the sensory descriptions. These metaphors helped create a powerful and evocative narrative that transported readers to the festival, making the descriptions more immersive and emotionally engaging. In addition, For one participant, the exercise served as a therapeutic experience. Having attended the festival for the third consecutive year, she could reflect on her journey over the past three years. This reflection allowed her to infuse her writing with personal growth and change, adding a deep and meaningful dimension to her narrative. Her essay not only described the present moment but also connected it to her past experiences, highlighting the evolution of her feelings and perspectives about the festival.

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Entrepreneurship

The free-form entrepreneurship course was a dynamic and inspiring experience for aspiring business owners. Participants were encouraged to think outside the box and explore their unique ideas. Through interactive exercises, group discussions, and expert guidance, they developed essential entrepreneurial skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and strategic planning. The course fostered a supportive and collaborative environment, empowering individuals to turn their dreams into reality.

entrepreneurship

Tree of life

The workshop started at 10:30 am, and taking advantage of the good weather, we carried out the activity outside the ARCSS headquarters.

The session began with the presentations, where each participant told their name, age and a little about their story. Following this, the facilitator introduced the project and outlined the objectives of the workshop.

Before the activity itself, the facilitator carried out a brief meditation and awareness exercise.

The main activity, titled “The Tree of Life,” invited women to visually represent various aspects of their lives on an illustrative tree. Then they had the opportunity to build or improve the tree with different materials available

The subsequent phase involved sharing and listening to each other’s stories portrayed through their unique trees. These were emotional and very generous shares, which promoted self-reflection and joint reflection.

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Biodanza

The Biodanza workshop was a transformative experience that connected participants with their bodies, emotions, and the world around them. Through guided movements, music, and group interactions, participants explored their inner selves and discovered new ways to express themselves. Biodanza fostered a sense of belonging, joy, and vitality, leaving participants feeling more grounded, connected, and inspired.

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Self-care through creative writing

The self-care through creative writing workshop provided a nurturing space for participants to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Through guided writing exercises, journaling prompts, and supportive group discussions, participants learned to use creative writing as a tool for self-expression, stress reduction, and emotional healing. The workshop fostered a sense of mindfulness, self-compassion, and personal growth.

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River of life

The facilitator introduced the participants to the River of Life exercise. While participants were bringing their unique stories to life on canvas, the creativity and depth of their reflections was incredibly interesting. Some rivers flowed smoothly, reflecting periods of tranquility and contentment. Others were marked by turbulent rapids, symbolizing challenges. It was heartwarming to see how participants connected their personal experiences to the broader themes of life’s journey, exploring the interplay of choices, circumstances, and the ebb and flow of emotions. Through this exercise, the participants gained a deeper appreciation for their own stories, recognizing the strength, resilience, and beauty that have shaped their paths.

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River of life – tailoring

The participants were 13 from different nationalities: Nigeria, Congo, Senegal, Peru (2), Bolivia, Algeria, Albania (2), Bulgaria, Ukraine, Syria.

Using the river as a metaphor for life allows them to represent the path of their own personal history, identifying its significant elements, associated with joys and/or sorrows.

Drawings of their own ‘rivers of life’ were produced in a first phase. Materials used: paper, crayons and felt-tip pens for drawing.

After this exercise, all participants in groups were invited to tell the story about their own river. It will be a way of sharing and processing together, in an atmosphere of affection and trust, their own life experiences, most of them linked to the migratory journey.

In a second phase, closely linked to the tailoring workshop activity, each of them had the opportunity to re-create their own river in fabric.

Materials used: a piece of fabric chosen by each of them to serve as the base for the tapestry, various coloured fabrics and scraps from their countries of origin, threads, buttons, trimmings to represent and embroider their river.

In this second session, the aim was to focus on aspects of their lives related to memories and experiences with textiles and sewing, which may have motivated them to undertake our tailoring course, so that they can bring back memories of their childhood.

Sewing and embroidering their own river was be a symbolic journey. Being in contact with textiles, with their textures, refers to existential and identity wefts; being able to cut and then sew together pieces of fabric suggests the possibility of resilient repair of trauma-related wounds.

Their tapestries were then joined to create a single long river, a single large piece of cloth, a sort of banner/manifesto of this narrative commitment that from individual becomes collective, a symbol of an inclusive weaving.

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