AARGH!! - Youth Exchange | Erasmus+, European Commission
2019-2020
Participating countries: UK, Armenia, Georgia, Italy
AARGH!! - Art Against Radicalism and Genocide and for Human-rights!! is an innovative multi-media, creative arts based youth exchange between four different countries, including UK, Armenia, Georgia, Italy. The project is funded by the European Commission in the context of the Erasmus+ Programme and it is facilitated by Rejuvenate Uk.
Participants selected by each partner will take part in small scale multi-media creative arts based activities including painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, photography and video. AARGH!!'s aim is to facilitate a creative approach towards radicalism, genocide and hatred in our societies and to foster creativity by helping young artists to build confidence and self esteem, encourage inter-cultural dialogue and promote social inclusion and solidarity.
AARGH!! will foster transnational relations between young people and artists on an international scale, reducing prejudices and hatred in our societies by embracing tolerance and cultural awareness. Young people, artists, international citizens who participate in AARGH!! will be active and powerful agents in the struggle to spread peace, understanding and humanity in a climate of uncertainty and change, via positive and pro-active artistic expression.
The Siena Art Institute team
For the project, the Siena Art Institute selected a team of young artists among its pool of European alumni and interns:
Melissa Pitzalis
Federica Murittu
Kyriakos Papadopoulos**
Alkis Avarkiotis**
Spyros Anemogiannis**
The artists were assisted by Clio Manfredi, who took part in the project as team leader and Siena Art Institute representative.
**Already recipients in the past of study grants from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Part I: Yerevan, 7-16 January 2020
During the first AARGH!! exchange the Italian team was hosted by the Armenian partner Today Art Initiative in Yerevan. The five young artists had the opportunity to be inspired by the art and culture of the Armenian capital city, to meet their peers from all five participating countries and to work on the production of artworks inspired by the project's main theme: radicalism, conflict, trauma, and the struggle for cross-cultural peace and cooperation.
Melissa Pitzalis
Photo credit: Federica Murittu
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Federica Murittu
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Kyriakos Papadopoulos
Photo credit: Federica Murittu
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Alis Avarkiotis
Photo credit: Federica Murittu
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Spyros Anemogiannis
"The Finder". Link to the video
Photo credit: Federica Murittu
Part II: Tower Hamlets (London), 2-11 February 2020
For the second Exchange of the project the teams were hosted by Rejuvenate UK in the East London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Here the young artists were given the opportunity to analyse the project core themes from a very different perspective, but also to explore the many contemporary art galleries and museums of the UK capital city.
The project ended with an exhibition at the Brady Art Centre in Whitechapel, London.
Melissa Pitzalis
Federica Murittu
Kyriakos Papadopoulos
Alkiviadis Avarkiotis
