VF: Building Relationships
AMASS Coordinator: University of Lapland
Portugal Coordinator: APECV Research Team: Ângela Saldanha; Raquel Balsa; Teresa Eça Artists: Abel Andrade; Carlos Sousa; Juliana Ferreira; Dori Nigro and Célia Ferreira |
Local Mediators: Ana Claudia (art therapist); Maria João (Psychologist); Carla (social worker)
Local Stakeholder: Establecimento Vitor Fontes, home care for people with disabilities (Viseu) Explored media: postal art; textile art; photography and video animation; performance arts |
February 2021–November 2021
The experience was carried out throughout 7 months in an urban area with 33 participants from a home care institution for adults with disabilities. A first meeting with the director of the institution was held in February 2021 to establish the protocol for cooperation. COVID-19 restrictions prevented further visits until October 2021. Therefore, artists and researchers proposed a postal art connection and health workers suggested video messages between artists and participants via the mobile app WhatsApp. These communication media was explored between April 2021 and September 2021, so all the participants from APECV and from VF were able to meet virtually before the workshops took place.
The plan of activities was designed as an intensive residence by researchers and health workers, according to the preferences of the participants who selected one of 3 workshops (Performance with Abel and Dori; Textile Art with Celia or Multimedia with Carlos and Juliana). After several cancellations because of quarantine, the institution opened doors to visitors in September. Artists and researchers from AMASS were the first visitors after a period of several months of isolation.
Between September 22–November 3, the artists coordinated the residences and during four/five intensive days explored arts-making with the participants—one group through body expression, the second group discovering multimedia arts and the third group creating tapestries. Local mediators, health workers and social workers were key elements to help artists understand the participants with verbal and physical difficulties and help artists in the artistic activities.
The experience was carried out throughout 7 months in an urban area with 33 participants from a home care institution for adults with disabilities. A first meeting with the director of the institution was held in February 2021 to establish the protocol for cooperation. COVID-19 restrictions prevented further visits until October 2021. Therefore, artists and researchers proposed a postal art connection and health workers suggested video messages between artists and participants via the mobile app WhatsApp. These communication media was explored between April 2021 and September 2021, so all the participants from APECV and from VF were able to meet virtually before the workshops took place.
The plan of activities was designed as an intensive residence by researchers and health workers, according to the preferences of the participants who selected one of 3 workshops (Performance with Abel and Dori; Textile Art with Celia or Multimedia with Carlos and Juliana). After several cancellations because of quarantine, the institution opened doors to visitors in September. Artists and researchers from AMASS were the first visitors after a period of several months of isolation.
Between September 22–November 3, the artists coordinated the residences and during four/five intensive days explored arts-making with the participants—one group through body expression, the second group discovering multimedia arts and the third group creating tapestries. Local mediators, health workers and social workers were key elements to help artists understand the participants with verbal and physical difficulties and help artists in the artistic activities.
postcardsperformance |
textile artmultimedia |