We've already tried it once, and the encouraging feedback inspired us to do it again. The invitation came from InspirART for an Open Inspiration Workshop of modelling. Keeping with the spirit of sensitisation, we again pushed the "invisible" boundaries of creation, which was hosted by the Herkules Workshop in the Zsolnay Quarter. The pictures reflect the atmosphere. I asked one of the organisers to answer a few questions about the background to the event and her personal involvement.
Who are you? If you could say a few words about yourself that you feel are important.
I'm Sejla Regina Hideg, a first year student of Pedagogy. Different artistic activities have always been very close to me, and I have found myself mostly in music. I have been playing the trumpet for more than ten years, and I have also had the pleasure of singing in choirs for several years. It is through these activities that I have most experienced how valuable art itself can be in our everyday lives.
InspirArt is a solidarity project for young people. What exactly does this mean?
A team of mainly university volunteers working together. Our aim is to promote and raise awareness of different artistic activities. We focus mainly on children, who have been working together as a community of a few since the project started. We organise different activities for them and visit exhibitions and museums together. In the summer, they will also participate in a creative camp where they will present a social problem they have identified using process-oriented art techniques. We also organise Open Inspiration Workshops to focus on our wider environment, as we want some of our programmes to be accessible to everyone. These are free of charge and anyone can attend. Our efforts are supported by the European Commission, the European Solidarity Corps and the Tett-Hely Youth Association.
I heard you also organise a dance workshop. Is that true?
Previously we organised a Swing Evening as the theme of an Open Inspiration Workshop. Since then other activities have been added for a change, but it is possible that there will be more.
Since when did InspirART exist? How many of you are there?
The project was officially launched in January 2024, but the brainstorming and preparation phase started months earlier. There are 5 active and cohesive members in the team. We usually have a lot of ideas and we are motivated to implement them.
What age group are you targeting? The age group represented at the pottery is between 14 and 50. Where were the participants from? Were some of them people you didn't know at all because they were complete outsiders?
The closed group of children was made up of 11 to 15 year olds. There is no target age group for the Workshops. We advertise it on our social media pages all the time, so there were some people I didn't know but I was very happy to have them participate.
What has been your best experience so far, both as a participant and as an organiser?
It's a great experience to see the children slowly forming a cohesive community during the sessions, which is a very positive feedback. Also, after the Workshops, I received reactions from people who said how much they enjoyed the programmes. These were very heart-warming.
How much do you see the future of InspirART?
I think there are very few similar programmes. Another important aspect is that the project can create a community that is a pleasure to be part of. Moreover, we still have a lot of untapped ideas, so I would not be afraid of the InspirART project not actively moving forward.
Is there a message you would like to send to prospective participants?
Anyone who would be in doubt about coming to similar programmes: it's worth trying things that spark old or new interests. The thrill of learning a new dance step or of meeting a friendly and supportive community can be very empowering.
Personally, I'm very interested to know where your social sensitivity comes from, how long have you been involved in such or similar programmes?
I've been involved in events and programmes since I was a little girl, and since my mother is a youth worker, I've had the chance to get involved from a different perspective. For me, programmes that target local communities or even young people are a natural fit. I do a lot of volunteering, so this gives me an excellent basis, support and development opportunity to use this not only in my everyday life, but also in InspirART projects.
- András Olessák -