Creative Art & Literature Workshops

JANUARY – MARCH 2023

Workshop Instructor: Katerina Tzavara, MSc Teacher – Author

Organization: Museum of the Macedonian Struggle

Venue: Museum of Macedonian Struggle

Hours: 6:00-7:30 pm

Scientific context – Programme objectives:

• The creative approach to artwork, reading literature books and creative writing games within the Museum are the ideal conditions for children to spark inspiration, develop a variety of skills (cognitive, social, emotional and digital) and gain the confidence to present their work to others. The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle is the only museum in the wider region of Thessaloniki where it has incorporated in its educational design experiential workshops for children, which use Literature and Creative Expression and Writing to improve oral and written language, cultivate a positive relationship with books and a love for the arts, within an organized framework of entertainment and learning.
• The pedagogical principles of Museum Education meet the authorial techniques and modern methods of observation of a visual work or text. Using the combined interaction of the arts (visual arts, photography, sculpture, theatre, music) with Literature, Creative Writing and History as a vehicle, the group of participants in the workshops is motivated to play imaginative games with words, voice and body, to create stories, poems, collages and paintings, to read excerpts from well-known children’s literature books in a theatrical way, to bring the photographs and exhibits of the Museum to life, to get to know the history of the people of Macedonia in an original and attractive way.
• The modern teaching approach to history “borrows” methods and practices from related social sciences, such as museology, psychology, visual arts, theatre, graphic design, mass media. Historical museums, such as the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, can tell stories from the past through innovative activities (digital models, comic book creation, art constructions, handmade chronicles, photography exhibitions, contemporary art installations, etc.). ) and provide opportunities to engage with children’s issues related to the evolution of man through time, changes in everyday life and professions, children’s games, environmental conditions, folklore customs and important historical events.
• The animator in the process of reading – discussing – expressing and writing works in a supportive way for each child, so that he/she can unfold his/her thoughts and talents and be gradually led to self-awareness, self-esteem and creative communication with the group.

Overall, children are inspired and motivated to:

• read original books together in a group
• discover the secrets of great painters
• experiment with colours and images
• to creatively and digitally process old photographs of Macedonia
• to “bring the exhibits of the Museum to life” and learn about their history
• write & illustrate their own stories!

Workshop content – Activities

The starting point for inspiration and the field of creative approach will be a book of children’s literature as well as extracts from other books, poems, visual artworks and old photos and videos of the Manakia brothers, the first filmmakers in the Balkans. Children will learn about the structure, narrative elements of stories, the unique way of reading and writing short texts (captions, advertisements, posters), poems (rhymes, calligraphy, limericks) and short stories (short stories). We draw on children’s experiences, play with words, pictures and colours, show them that writing and reading can be a fun adventure and they should not be ashamed or afraid to express themselves freely and creatively.

The workshops will take place in different rooms of the museum each time depending on the references that link the literary story to the exhibits or the building itself. At the end of the workshops, a series of multi-thematic texts and counter-constructions will be presented by the young museum-goers!

Workshop content – Activities

Each Wednesday will be dedicated to a thematic unit (me and books, children and the environment, my Thessaloniki, life in the Museum, the struggle for freedom, etc.). The starting point of inspiration and the field of creative approach will be a book of children’s literature as well as extracts from other books, poems and visual artworks. The children will get to know important books of Greek and foreign literature for children, as well as their authors. They will get to know the structure, narrative elements of the stories, the unique way in which we can read and write short stories. We use the children’s experiences, play with words, show them how not to be afraid of writing and reading in school!

The workshops will take place in different rooms of the museum depending on the references that link the literary story to the exhibits or the building itself. The reading and discussion of the books will be followed by story animation activities, such as exploratory discovery games, painting-illustration, role-playing, creating a new story or poetic text. At the end of the workshops, a series of multi-thematic texts will be presented, illustrated by the little museum lovers!

Participation fee: 40 euro/person (5 workshops) & 80 euro/person (10 workshops)

For siblings: 35 euros and 75 euros/person, respectively)

 Payment method: In one lump sum at the beginning of the workshops or in 2 instalments (11 January & 1 March for those who will participate in all 10 workshops)

 Information – Reservations: 2310229778 & kemit.education@imma.edu.gr

Curriculum vitae of the rapporteur

Katerina Tzavara is a teacher and writer. She lives in Thessaloniki and is a graduate of the American College ANATOLIA, with pedagogical studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her postgraduate studies and research interests focus on Creative Writing in Education and Physical Activity and Quality of Life for Children. She worked for many years in private and public education in teaching and administrative positions. She was in charge of the Internship for students at the TEPAE AUTH and in charge of the Professional Development and Career Office of the D.I.E.K. and I.I.E.K. of Thessaloniki, as well as in charge of the Creative Writing Club for children at the IANOS culture chain of Thessaloniki.

She collaborates with public and private cultural institutions as a scientific manager of educational activities and training courses. She participates as a lecturer in international conferences, trainings and workshops on art and literacy in education. She writes articles in print and electronic journals. She is a member of the Greek IBBY, E.E.P.EK. and the Women’s Literary Fellowship. Since 2019 she has been working in the educational programs of the Museum of Macedonian Struggle in Thessaloniki. 24 books for children and teachers have been published by DIAPLOUS Publications, as well as her first collection of short stories for adults entitled “TWELVE / Stories born in Thessaloniki”.

You can watch the video of the children’s activities and stories in the 2 cycles of the Literacy & Creative Writing workshops here: