Who is most relevant to reach in a project about inclusive citizenship, sustainability and democracy? Children are literally our future, and what could be better than involving them in discussions about what world we should shape together?
This summer, INCITE-DEM and NTNU has cooperated with THE HERDS, Olavsfest and Trondheim Municipality in carrying out six “vision workshops” together with children age 6-9 years at local schools. At the workshops we presented the Climate Art project THE HERDS (https://www.theherds.org) and discussed climate change together with the children.
Thereafter we joined the children to create “extinct animals that never have existed” out of papier maché. In addition to all children – and us – producing one individual animal, each school produced a larger fantasy creature. These creatures were exposed at Olavsfest, a unique, cultural festival that seeks to create reflection on questions of values, human rights, and societal issues. The children joined us and brought their individual animals on a stick to Olavsfest and participated in THE HERDS climate art parade.
NTNU documented the results of the workshops with children and also the effects of THE HERDS parade – both qualitatively and quantitatively – and we can of course promise to present the fantastic (!) results of these in the form of journal papers. However, research results are not all, we also wanted to continue having good conversations about democracy and the future both with children and adults.
Therefore, we set up an interactive research communication stand to communicate the results from our creative workshops and expose the larger “extinct animals that never existed” from all the schools. The fantasy animals were strategically placed around our stand and at strategic locations at the interactive fairground area where they could be admired by the public during the whole festival from July 28 to August 3rd.
In addition to showcasing the creative work of the children, we invited children (and adults) to draw their perception of the “beings of the future” and collected “quotes from the future” from the parents and/or guardians. At the stand we showcased a more emotional or disruptive approach to climate change (please see the posters) and we also wore THE HERDS T-shirts. The artworks and quotes were continually put on display as part of the stand, which was kept open between 11-16 o’clock every day during the festival. Our stand was indeed very popular and we estimate that we had between 30-60 children and adults actively participating in our INCITE-DEM activities every day.
In addition to showcasing the creative work of the children, we invited children (and adults) to draw their perception of the “beings of the future” and collected “quotes from the future” from the parents and/or guardians. At the stand we showcased a more emotional or disruptive approach to climate change (please see the posters) and we also wore THE HERDS T-shirts. The artworks and quotes were continually put on display as part of the stand, which was kept open between 11-16 o’clock every day during the festival. Our stand was indeed very popular and we estimate that we had between 30-60 children and adults actively participating in our INCITE-DEM activities every day.
On the last day of the festival, we even had a visit from the current Norwegian Minister of Children and Families, Lene Vågslid (Labour Party), who has very impressed with the way we included children in discussions and explorations about the future. We are more than pleased with this research dissemination activity, and we have already started to analyse the data from workshops and a survey on THE HERDS.