Outreach Europe
Randers/Aarhus, Denmark
Outreach Europe is a European project funded by the European Union Culture Programme and the project partners, that are GAIA Museum Outsider Art (Denmark), Elderberry AB (Sweden) and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (UK). It aims at developing extensive mapping and research on European museums' educational methods in their surrounding communities, by investigating how museums, galleries and cultural institutions across Europe engage with an audience beyond the traditional means of outreach.
Much evidence suggests that cultural participation helps communities’ engagement; it enables better well-being and broadens social and cultural diversity. If outreach is embedded in the core of organisations, rather than provided by project funding with a limited life, it will create sustainable power. Instead of relegated participation at the margin of the strategic development, this is an opportunity to mainstream the work and refocus on longer-term impact and solutions.
Outreach Europe will look at how best to work with groups that are often overlooked in outreach, inclusion and volunteering opportunities, including:
- Disabled people (physical disability as well as mental health issues)
- Elderly people with health problems and dementia
- Ethnic minorities – non-native speakers
- Homeless people
Outreach Europe will organise a conference in spring 2015 in Randers/Aarhus, Denmark.
The aim of the conference is to facilitate the beginning of a new approach for development of outreach processes. Keynote speakers and participants will inform on and discuss what might work and what might not; identify the underlying cultural issues that might be at play and the means to overcome these and look at case studies. Furthermore, the conference will provide a platform for networking opportunities and collaborations across Europe.
More information on the conference will follow.