NEWS

The third international meeting of the Youth Re:Build – Together Designing an Inclusive Future project brought together partners from several European countries in Broccostella, Italy, to explore how creativity, art and public-space interventions can become tools for civic engagement and positive social change.

Hosted by Pro Loco Broccostella, the meeting focused on the role of art in shaping public spaces, strengthening community dialogue and encouraging young people to express their views on social and environmental issues. Through practical workshops and collaborative activities, participants explored how creative interventions can draw attention to challenges such as climate change, accessibility, social inclusion and changes affecting contemporary cities.

A significant part of the programme was dedicated to hands-on artistic activities. Participants worked together on visual concepts and public-space interventions, experimenting with different forms of creative expression and learning how relatively simple artistic ideas can transform ordinary urban spaces and communicate meaningful messages. The activities demonstrated that public art does not necessarily require large-scale infrastructure – temporary installations, unconventional surfaces and collaborative artworks can also encourage people to look at familiar places from a different perspective.

The programme also explored the relationship between urban spaces, local identity and community memory. During visits and practical activities in Broccostella and the surrounding area, participants reflected on how local history, cultural heritage and residents' experiences can be incorporated into creative initiatives and used to strengthen people's connection with the places where they live.

The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to exchange experiences from their own countries and discuss how creative methods could be adapted to different local contexts. Particular attention was given to approaches that involve young people and community members directly in identifying local challenges, developing ideas and contributing to the transformation of shared spaces.

The knowledge and practical methods gained during the meeting will contribute to further Youth Re:Build activities in Panevėžys and other partner cities, supporting more inclusive, creative and community-oriented approaches to urban development.

The project “Youth Re:Build: Together Designing an Inclusive Future” is funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.