©ANSA Art, theater and informal get-togethers are part of the "Journeys" project that brings Italian children and adults together to challenge stereotypes about migration and foster integration.
"Journeys" is a project in which Italian and foreign adults and children work together for refugee integration. The initiative takes place through the children's museum "Explora" in Rome.
The idea was conceived by UK-based ArtReach, which has been organizing the Journeys Festival International in British cities since several years, Anna Codazzi, coordinator for the museum's European projects, told ANSA.
"Later, a European partnership was set up with Hamburg, Budapest, Leicester, Manchester, Portsmouth and - in Italy - with the cities of Rieti, Palermo and Rome," she added.
Art, theater and meetings
"Journeys" includes three types of initiatives that involve children, families and schools. The first is called "Lookup", a visual arts project. On April 1, Tunisian artist Takua Ben Mohamed, author of the graphic novel ''Under the Veil'' participated in a workshop with children. On the following day, artist Sibomana, Italian children and refugees in the capital created artwork on the subject of children in refugee shelters. These were exhibited in the museum, Codazzi said.
The second type of activity, Container Project, involves theater. The first performance took place on April 1 and another one is to follow on April 9. These events are being held in collaboration with Arte Studio, a cultural association that holds theater workshops with refugees.
The project also includes seminars - informal meetings between artists working on the subject of migration, and children and their families on the issue of integration. The first seminar is taking place on April 7. The initiative will end on April 21 with a photo exhibition.
Overcoming stereotypes
"What we want to do with this project is to raise awareness among families and children on the issue of the integration of foreigners and refugees. We did this through workshops in which refugee children and their Rome-born counterparts engaged in artistic activities together," Codazzi said.
The aim, she said, is to overcome mistaken perceptions about migration in Italy through "informal activities typical of children's museums. This is a different approach to deal with integration issues."
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