The project

Following the success of the 4 Elements project, the partnership decided to go one step further and continue exploring the potential of the 4 elements, but this time with a focus on art, creativity and creative thinking. 4 Elements in Arts offers a collection of resources for adult learners and their trainers to improve their language and digital skills, and their knowledge of European heritage and culture. This project is a follow-up to the 4 Elements project, which used legends from Europe’s cultural heritage as a basic resource for language learning. This time partners are exploring the visual arts cultural heritage as their main resource.

Context

This partnership, made up of 7 organisations from Belgium, Latvia, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain, active in the field of education, training and social inclusion, is determined to develop a project to train educators working with adult learners to equip them with the skills and competences, particularly linguistic and digital, needed in today’s European Union labour market.
Within this broad group, the partners have identified specific needs which they wish to address through this project. Adults with learning difficulties have difficulty progressing at the pace set by institutions in specific contexts. They are capable of acquiring new academic skills, but at a pace and with tools adapted to their needs. Adapted content, based on artworks, will help to highlight their strengths rather than their weaknesses, giving them a better chance of succeeding in their learning.

Targets

The 4 Elements in Arts resources are intended for social workers, teachers, tutors, lecturers, adult learners and people or organisations working in the fields of foreign language learning, culture and heritage. This project helps to spread the importance of culture and heritage throughout the European Union.

Resources

The partnership focuses on :

  • An interactive map: a collection of pictorial works of art inspired by water, earth, fire and air, from different European countries, some translated into Braille and some into different sign languages.
  • Methodological recommendations for adult educators.
  • Interactive lesson plans for language learning.
  • A database of teaching and learning resources.

Les partenaires

CVO EduKempen

Belgium

The CVO EduKempen is an institute for adult education which based in center of the region Kempen (Belgium). The centre provides group tuition in foreign languages, Dutch for foreigners, computer sciences, economics, tourism and vocational edcuation. The centre is public institution funded by the National Department of Education of Flanders with a regional scope and more than 6.000 parttime learners. The institute is a partner in several national and international projects concerning ICT development, languages and prison education.

DomSpain

Spain

Training organization for adults specialized in the field of education and vocational training, acquisition of professional, social and intercultural skills, foreign languages and new technologies.

Istituto dei sordi di Torino

Italy

Non-profit foundation specializing in providing a wide range of services and activities for people with disabilities and disorders (hearing impairment, visual impairment, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive delay).

MyArtist

Greece

A cooperative social enterprise founded in 2018, MyArtist specializes in public interest actions (reintegration through work, coaching and mentoring of marginalized artists (people with disabilities, long-term unemployed, ex-prisoners, drug addicts, etc).

Slovenian Third Age University U3A

Slovenia

The Slovenian University of the Third Age is an umbrella organization and a national network enabling older people to develop, start a new career and remain integrated in society. The network currently has 55 universities throughout Slovenia, with over 21,000 students, 1000 mentors and 1000 volunteers.

Zini Foundation

Latvia

The Foundation for Education and Innovation “Zini” is a non-governmental organization located in Latvia. The organisation was founded in the year 2018 with the aim of improving the life quality of adults, promoting their active citizenship and involvement in decision-making processes through education and innovation.