The Art for Social Change Programme was launched in 1998 in South Eastern Europe. Initiator of this programme was the European Cultural Foundation. The partners were Open Society Institutes from SEE. The Performing Arts Center Multimedia, from 1998, was a coordinator of this programme in the Republic of Macedonia, and since 2003, Pac Multimedia became its Resource Centre.
The Art for Social Change programme uses the methodology of Drama in Education as a tool to help young people throughout Macedonia, and in the countries participants of the programme, understand who they are and the world in which they live. The practical application of this method can be used to aid self-confidence, self-exploration, cultural expression and conflict resolution.
The programme is targeted at children and young people between the ages of 6 and 18 years who are confronted to the many kinds of violence that affect their lives: military, environmental and domestic.
The programme is led by artists, social workers, pedagogues and psychologists. Direct work with children and young people is carried out in the following manner: working groups consisting of 20-25 children, meeting a minimum of twice per week for duration of two hours. Facilitators-artists lead the workshops, and each team of artists has a group that supports them. This support group consists of pedagogues, social workers and psychologists.
The frame of the whole project is formatted in the following way: Resource Center who is coordinating and organizing all common activities in all phases of the whole programe, training programmes (where all of the facilitators and support groups working with children go through the same process) and pilot projects (all who have completed the training programme within the group prepare a pilot project). Each pilot project should end with a final product (theater play, exhibition, performance, etc…) that will be shown to the public. However, it must be emphasized that this product must not be a goal for itself. It must be the outcome of the work of the participating children themselves.
The Art for Social Change programme in Macedonia from 2002 is structured to include a network of organizations, with one resource-coordination center- PAC MULTIMEDIA, through which 5 pilot projects will continue to be implemented under the same methodology but adjusted to the specificities of the environment within which it is applied. Every new cycle will cover more that 400 children and about 30 facilitators. Special working sessions are anticipated for the work with the children and parents. The new initiative of this programme is establishment of the New Board of Children, who will be active in all phases of the programme, but also into a decision making process of the programme.
Professional performing artists, psychologists and teachers who use a completely child-centered drama and theater methodology have been building this infrastructure. This working system allows young people to play and have fun, and at the same time to explore at their own pace live issues in a way that they understand and value. This empowers them to make a positive contribution to the rebuilding of their communities.
In the Republic of Macedonia, in the frame of Art for Social Change programme, from 1999 till March 2004, a total of 18 training workshops have been realized, with the participation of approximately 150 actors, artists, pedagogues, psychologists and social workers. In the same period of time, 12 projects were completed and approximately 2.000 children were engaged in these projects. Positive aspects of this project are now visible as is the urge for its further development in Macedonia.
Accomplished seminars, productions, and workshops in the time frame of Art for Social Change Programme
Organizational Scheme 
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For more information, please contact info@multimedia.org.mk
