European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC)

The Roots are Growing

”Nord” Association
Romania
Picture-of-The-Roots-are-Growing
The project brings together young people, artists, and the local community to reflect on what Darabani means to those who live there. In many small towns, young people leave after high school and often do not return, which weakens the connection between youth and the future of the community. During the Days of the North festival, participants will create murals, lead guided tours, join a public discussion about the city centre, and present a theatre performance inspired by local stories. The project supports two grassroots groups: the Students’ Council and the Orfeu Theatre Group.
The project addresses brain drain in small towns. It works with two youth groups - the local students’ council and the independent theatre group from the local high school -, to support them in a reflection on the connection with their hometown. The project uses the parking lot in front of the Town Hall as a stage of this civic reflection, in the shape of a dedicated theatre performance and a participatory street artwork, both designed as answers to the question: ”What does Darabani mean to you?”. The performance and the murals are then showcased during Days of the North Festival, when the young creators engage in meaningful conversations with locals and tourists, through a public consultation on how the central parking lot could be transformed in a public square and, respectively, through youth-led guided tours of Darabani for the festival tourists. The youth are working with experienced facilitators: artist HarceaPacea leads the co-creation of the street murals, actress Ella Nistor supports Orfeu in preparing the theatre performance, architect Bogdan Curelariu prepares the public consultation and local poet and historian Victor Teișanu helps prepare the guided tours.

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