For a moment, let’s put aside the fact that all art workshops are necessarily intercultural, because they take us to unknown realms and make us meet our own unexplored stranger within ourselves. And let’s focus on intercultural trainings. In our “art of adaptation” course for instance we explicitly pin down objectives, linked to what we perceive a successful adaptation process: more creative communication, emotion management, flexibility of identity positions, handling of uncertainty etc. We think that art is a good path towards exploring and developing these skills. So, we take art as a path, as a process, and mind a little bit less about the end product. We do not make exhibitions, public performances of the works created, the process is what we’re after.
And here is the question: this neglecting of the final art product, does it take away an essential part? What is the role of the final art piece in such a workshop? How do you negotiate between final result and process in your own workshops?
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