Video Recap of Make Art Great Again
Topic
Visual Arts
Activity Dates
06.02 – 12.02.2025
Countries
SK CZ HU PT LT
Location
Peniche, Portugal
A Meeting of Young Creatives in Peniche
In February 2025, the coastal town of Peniche, Portugal, became a hub of creativity as young people from Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic gathered for “Make Art Great Again”, an Erasmus+ youth exchange. But this wasn’t just an art retreat; it was about using creativity to tackle big societal issues like misinformation, populism, and inclusion.
The exchange was a mix of deep discussions and hands-on artistic exploration. Participants reflected on how art can challenge narratives, encourage critical thinking, and bring communities together.
From Ideas to Artistic Expression
To deepen this reflection, the group welcomed Inês Almeida Mats, known artistically as Out IAM, an illustrator and street artist whose surreal, nature-inspired work explores human behaviour, gender, and social issues. In a short talk, she shared how art in public spaces can provoke thought and foster community engagement.
But rather than just talking about it, they put their ideas into action, experimenting with painting, graffiti, photography, drawing, etc. Everyone, regardless of experience, had the chance to express themselves, learn from others, and step outside their comfort zones.
Leaving a Creative Mark on the Community
One of the highlights of the program was the creation of several murals at the local youth centre in Peniche, in collaboration with Associação Juvenil de Peniche, inspired by the creative brainstorming the participants took part in beforehand. It wasn’t just about adding colour to a wall; it was about leaving a lasting message, something the community could connect with and enjoy long after the exchange ended. Working together, the participants turned their artistic skills into a powerful form of storytelling and made a huge impact on the local community. The walls create a more fun and vibrant environment for the children to grow up in.
Art as a Catalyst for Change
As the program came to a close, there was time to reflect on everything they had learned; not just about art, but about themselves, teamwork, social responsibility, and the impact of creativity. The final day was filled with celebrations, laughter, and the exchange of Youthpass certificates, marking the end of an unforgettable experience.
Make Art Great Again proved that art is more than just aesthetics; it’s a tool for change, a way to spark conversations, and a bridge between people and ideas. And for those who took part, Peniche will always be the place where they saw that in action.
Results
Some of the cool things we did during this activity:
Painting Murals
As a final project, participants created murals at the local youth centre in collaboration with Associação Juvenil de Peniche. The artworks brought colour and meaning to the space, leaving a lasting mark on the community.
These are the flipcharts and other artworks created during the activity:
Photo Gallery
A few more moments from this activity :)
Dissemination Events
Our participants took part in disseminations, sharing the knowledge, skills, and experiences they gained from the activity with their community.
Agualva-Cacém, Portugal, Feb. 2025
Dissemination by Catariana Chaves at Escola Básica S. Marcos nº1, where she shared her “Make Art Great Again” experience in art class, highlighting the wall-painting activity at a youth association in Peniche.
Ostrava, Czechia, Feb. 2025
Richard Kosa created a poster and placed it around the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ostrava. It gave students a glimpse into the activities, the vibe of the activity, and when and where it all took place.
Bartninkai, Lithuania, Mar. 2025
Pedro Ramalho presented the activity in Babeckyne to a group of 45 young people, sharing his experience, the creative activities involved, and encouraging others to take part in similar opportunities.
Bratislava, Slovakia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Paulina Boleková at Comenius University Bratislava to 14 friends, where she shared fun stories, creative moments, and the impact the activity had on her and those she met.
Zilina, Slovakia, Mar. 2025
Laura Carna and classmates visited three classes at Gymnázium Františka z Assisi, presenting Erasmus+ and ‘Make Art Great Again’ through videos, stories, and tips for getting involved.
Debrecen, Hungary, Mar. 2025
Boglárka Gecso gathered some friends in her dorm to talk about Erasmus+, e29 network, and her experience in the activity. She shared tips about art, explained how to apply for future exchanges.
Netherlands, Mar. 2025
Laura Katkauskaite shared the ‘Make Art Great Again’ experience during a gathering in the Netherlands. She showed the final movie, talked about the activity’s theme, sessions, and the connections built, and also highlighted other e29 initiatives like the sports activities.
Trnava, Slovakia, Mar. 2025
Adam Benca gave a presentation to 10 classmates at Stredná Zdravotnícka Škola, where he shared his experience, talked about the activities, and encouraged other students to take part in similar opportunities.
Rijeka, Croatia, Mar. 2025
Zoltan Tamas had the opportunity to present the activity in Rijeka, Croatia, in front of 22 youth workers and volunteers. He talked about the activities and outcomes, and brought the experience to life through a presentation filled with photos and videos.
Covilhã, Portugal, Mar. 2025
Luisa Carreira gave a presentation to a group of activists at a local association in her hometown, sharing her experience, the sessions she took part in, and the positive impact the activity had on her personal and creative journey.
Vilnius, Lithuania, Mar. 2025
Matas Lasauskas met with fellow members of the Skirgiskes Youth Club to share his experience. He talked about the sessions, what he learned, and why opportunities like this are so valuable for young people, encouraging others to take part in future activities as well.
Vilnius, Lithuania, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Nastja at SMK College of Applied Science during an info session, where she introduced how Erasmus+ youth exchanges work and shared personal experiences from the activity.
Budapest, Hungary, Mar. 2025
Eszter Hudák presented to 15 classmates at Janos Xantus Bilingual High School, sharing her Erasmus+ experience, showing photos, explaining the sessions.
Budapest, Hungary, Mar. 2025
Anna Cselenyi presented to around 13 classmates at the National University of Public Service, sharing her experience from the youth exchange.
Brno, Czechia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Timotej Sojak at Masaryk University, designing and distributing a poster around the campus.
Prague, Czechia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Amalie Bradacova at Fakulta Humanitních Věd, Univerzity Karlovy, through posters displayed around the school.
Brno, Czechia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by David Severa and Tereza Šimčíková via the student organization Friends of the Faculty of Education MUNI social media, sharing photos, graphics, and insights about ERASMUS+.
Brno, Czechia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Vendula Holčáková and Anna Gryčová at Masaryk University, creating and distributing a poster around the campus.
Pilsen, Czechia, Mar. 2025
Dissemination by Rozalie Mlcochova at the University of Art and Design SUTNARKA in Pilsen, where she interviewed classmates about Erasmus+ and turned it into a video.
Budajeno, Hungary, Apr. 2025
Nándor Pataki organized an art workshop in the forest of Budajenő for 14 friends, combining creativity with reconnection to nature.
Colares, Portugal, May 2025
Adriana Ferreira held a dissemination at Oasis Sintra Surf Aldeia da Praia, reaching 30 young people and sharing her Erasmus+ experience.
Bartninkai, Lithuania, May 2025
Adriana Ferreira shared her Erasmus+ experience with 40 young people during a session at Babeckyne, highlighting key moments and encouraging others to join future opportunities.
Labanoras, Lithuania, Jun. 2025
Dissemination by Pedro Ramalho at Vilijos Cepulienes Sodyba, reaching 39 young people, where he shared his experience and encouraged others to take part in similar activities.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade. Neither the European Union nor the funding authority can be held responsible for them.