[Translation : EPALE France]

As part of the Erasmus+ Adult Education programme and on the 60th anniversary of the twinning between Bordeaux and Munich, around ten French students aged between 19 and 30 had the opportunity to spend a week immersed in the arts at the IMAL (International Munich Art Lab), run by Kontraprunkt, thanks to LABA and Rocher de Palmer / Musiques de Nuit Diffusion.

This mobility scheme was part of a two-month digital and artistic training programme designed to mobilise and support adults isolated from support schemes in the cultural and creative sector (people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, people disconnected from employment, people who have dropped off the career ladder, etc.). Using artistic creation as a driving force, this experience enabled a group of adult learners to immerse themselves in a new environment through workshops, artistic creation and visits to emblematic cultural sites.

This work "Des adultes sont assis en cercle et échangent des paroles " is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

A full immersion in creation 

For many, this mobility was their first international artistic experience. Participants discovered practices such as engraving and printing, exchanged ideas with local artists and explored a different relationship with art and public space.

Participant Lesley-Anne shares her thoughts: “It made me want to write songs and be brave enough to have people listen to them.” Timinn says the experience enriched his vision: “I realised that there were other ways of thinking in other countries. This week has also encouraged me to reach out more to others.”

There were a number of highlights during the trip, including the feedback evenings, where the French and Germans shared their creativity in a friendly atmosphere. Anthéa, a rapper from Bordeaux, explains: “Max passed his guitar around and we all sang songs together.” Charlotte adds, “It was moving to see everyone come together to see the creations.” Enzo particularly remembers the open mic evening, a key moment when exchanges with the other participants really came into their own: “That was when I exchanged the most with the others.” These spontaneous interactions strengthened the bonds between the participants and illustrated music and art as universal languages.

This work "Des adultes sont autour d'une table en train de créer " is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

This work “Des adultes sont autour d'une table en train de créer” is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

A lasting personal and professional impact

On top of the artistic experience, this mobility programme coordinated by Musiques de Nuit Diffusion / le Rocher de Palmer enabled the participants to develop essential cross-disciplinary skills such as creativity, adaptability, self-confidence and collaboration. Enzo says: “The fact that I was drawing again gave me a fresh desire to create.” For Timinn, this immersion was also a wake-up call: “It’s about taking the good in people and putting it into our everyday lives.”

By experimenting with new practices and sharing their creations with an audience, the participants strengthened their ability to express themselves and work as a team. This kind of approach recognises the skills of each individual and is fully in line with the objectives of the LABA mobility centre and its partners, who have come together as a consortium as part of the Erasmus+ Adult Education accreditation: recognising the skills of participants by supporting their involvement and contribution in order to guide them towards new professional opportunities.