Stel je voor – Maas Theater & Dans, Villa Zebra, KCR
This project is chosen for the way artists give lessons, not only to children, but to also include the teacher in the learning process. To show them how art can be used to reach multiple goals. It is a long-term collaboration, where the organisations make a tailer-made program based on the wishes of the school. These art lessons are interdisciplinary.
Stel je voor(Can you imagine) is an arts education program developed by three Rotterdam-based organizations: Maas Theater & Dans, Villa Zebra and Kenniscentrum Cultuureducatie Rotterdam. The aim of this program is to strengthen the position of cultural education within Rotterdam schools. In doing so, they teach students and teachers the power of imagination, hence the title “Can you imagine”. This means, among other things, that the teachers attend the lessons of the educator. This way also the teachers will learn how to expand their imagination.
Maas Theater & Dans and Villa Zebra stand for the creation of an open view and attitude, which motivates to think in terms of possibilities and stimulates the imagination, an important skill to be able to give meaning to your own environment, society, and world. You can find your own answers through openness and imagination.
In ‘Can you imagine’, the participating organizations in collaboration with the school, they create a tailor-made program. They look for what the wishes of the school are, do they for example want to stimulate languagedevelopment, emotional strength or social themes? Based on the schools desire they make a program. A distinction is made here between visual art and theatre and dans. Villa Zebra takes on the task of Visual art lessons. Here they use the steps: inspire, do, reflect. Where there is an emphasis on the process instead of the result. The tools they provide are intended to connect the lesson to the pupil’s world as much as possible. Maas Theater & Dans takes the lead for the drama lessons. Here they use the route: search, create, think. They first look for: which theme is used, then attention is given to how to convert this theme into theatre. Finally, there is room for reflection during the thinking process. Here the emphasis is on seeking beyond the initial prompting and to think further through association. And thus, to develop the imagination better and better.
An online platform has been developed as well to inspire schools that cannot participate in the program. Through this way they can still improve their own art lessons. This platform is called “Doe het lekker zelf” (Do it yourself)
The UN goals associated with this project:
- Partnerships for goals, 17
- Quality education, 4
