From 11 – 15 of March 2024, we had the opportunity to have the Study Visit, of the project “Non-Formal Lab, Theatre Edition” in Södertälje and Stockholm. This five-day visit was an eye-opening journey into the intersection of non-formal education and the performing arts.
Why This Matters
Theatre is a powerful tool for storytelling and emotional engagement. It offers a unique platform for learning that goes beyond traditional methods. By integrating theatre into non-formal education, we can address complex topics in a more immersive and experiential way. This project gave us valuable insights into how theatre can be used to empower communities, foster creativity, and encourage social engagement.
Our Activities
The program began with an informal welcome session, where we set the stage for the days ahead. Our first stop was at the Ungdomsfronten office in ABF, where we discussed the project’s objectives and aligned our expectations. This initial session was crucial for building connections with other participants and understanding the framework of the study visit.
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Subtopia, an organization that masterfully integrates art, business, education, and social engagement. We witnessed firsthand how the arts can inspire and transform communities. Subtopia offers a school for circus arts, an art residency program, various spaces for dance and theatre rehearsals and showcases, an entrepreneur hub where successful professionals help artists turn their passions into thriving businesses, a large filming space, and much more. It’s a vibrant environment where creativity and opportunity converge to foster growth and innovation. We also had the chance to meet a youth worker who engages local youth in creating and performing shows, bringing the community together through the power of art.
We also had the opportunity to visit the Royal Theatre of Sweden, Dramaten. We explored behind the scenes, seeing where costumes and wigs are crafted, and toured the various theatre stages. This visit deepened our understanding of theatre’s role in preserving cultural heritage and its importance in attracting and engaging young audiences. It was an inspiring look at how theatre can continue to resonate with new generations.
Reflective discussions and focus groups followed each visit, allowing us to consolidate our learning. Through these conversations, we explored how the methods we observed could be applied in educational and social contexts. The hands-on experience and engagement with local communities were particularly impactful.
Here’s a screenshot of the Miro board notes (a tool we used during our Study Visit discussions), organized into four groups: IDEAS ON HOW TO APPLY WHAT WE LEARNED IN OUR LOCAL WORK?
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to the next stages of the project, we are focused on how we can adapt and implement these theatre practices in our local youth work. The study visit has equipped us with new methodologies and challenged us to think critically about how to make these activities more effective in our own contexts. One big take-away was not to be afraid to knock on the doors for possible collaborations. People are more open than you might think.
The ongoing discussions about the needs and challenges of our NGOs, along with the planning of future activities and the upcoming training course, highlight the lasting impact of this project on our professional development.
Conclusion
One of the biggest lessons we learned is not to be afraid to reach out and seek collaborations internationally, but also within our own communities. People are often more open and willing to connect than we might think.
The insights we gained and the connections we made during this study visit will have a lasting impact on how we approach non-formal education, especially when it comes to using theatre as a tool for social change.
This experience has been an amazing start of something truly exciting. We’re looking forward to continuing this journey, and soon, we’ll be joining 27 other youth workers for a Training Course focused on creating and delivering theatre-based activities. We can’t wait to share more updates with you. Stay tuned!
Non Formal LAB 