Atelier Happening by E35 Foundation and Consorzio Balsamico: Exploring climate change, peace and rights through art
On the morning of May 9, 2024, Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio in Reggio Emilia came alive with the Atelier Happening, an event organized by Consorzio Balsamico to celebrate Europe Day. Hosted by E35 Foundation, the event welcomed high-school students from the Reggio Emilia territory for a day of creativity and exploration.
The Atelier Happening is an approach we, as a theatre company, are developing both within and beyond the theatre environment. It offers an exploratory and performative take on various themes. By using the Atelier method alongside the materials provided, we create an immersive space-time where participants can dive into the many facets of a topic through action.
The core of this approach is simple—the students, invited to engage in active experimentation, became the performers of this experience, leaving their mark on the process. The participants were not just creators but also an audience, simultaneously interacting with and performing within an installation space, sparking their creativity and offering fresh perspectives on the world.
They were the artists, crafting living pieces of art under the curious eyes of passersby. They activated their creative processes to create something new that hadn’t existed in that square before. They imagined and created an artistic object that would remain for others to experience—a true embodiment of the spirit of every artist.
The square was set up in the style of an atelier, divided into four experiential zones. Each zone, or table, focused on one of the following themes: climate change, peace, rights, and mobility. Here, participants could reflect on these topics and express their thoughts creatively, using tools like stop-motion, voice and music recording, storytelling, and graphic design.
The students embraced the proposals in a dynamic and lively way, taking time for collective reflection and dialogue, studying the materials provided, and seeking connection between each other’s opinions. We witnessed a wonderful atmosphere of excitement and lightness, which allowed them to express deep imaginative thought while seriously engaging with important themes.
The dynamic aspect of the experience—having the opportunity to use their bodies and hands, to physically engage with their artistic creation— was particularly stimulating and encouraging. It was wonderful to see even the shyer, more introverted students embrace the activity with enthusiasm. Every group that participated asked questions, reflected on them, and sought a creative point of intersection, despite the limited time they had.
The involvement of the “tutors” played a key role in the event’s success—these were students who had participated in previous Europe Day events and volunteered to help organize the experience this year. They showed strong engagement and passion in assisting us with the groups, guiding the activities with energy and enthusiasm.
As a theatre company, we consider the Atelier Happening to be our primary approach to research and meeting others. This performative experience was deeply participatory for us, reaffirming our vision. It was rewarding to quietly witness the creative exploration of students preparing to face the world.
It was a moving experience to watch and listen as they fully expressed their individuality. We would like to thank all the students who participated and embraced the experience with their bodies and sensitivity, and extend our thanks to E35 Foundation for providing us the opportunity to contribute.
Thank you!
This video will take you inside the vibrant atmosphere of the Atelier Happening, where students came together to celebrate Europe Day. Here, they had the chance to unleash their creativity, expressing their ideas and thoughts on the proposed themes in an artistic and free-spirited way, using both their imagination and the materials provided.
