A few words about OSMOSIS
Who we are - a few words about Osmosis
Brief description
Brief description
OSMOSIS - Centre for the Arts and Intercultural Education (non governmental organization) was established in Athens in 2005.
OSMOSIS uses all forms of art to develop social and artistic programmes/initiatives so as to promote intercultural concepts and practices.
Organization’s Aims
According to the mission statement:
“The organization aims to raise citizens’ awareness and provoke their active participation against the stereotypes and prejudice regarding diversity, as well as to promote the values of both difference and human rights through cultural creativity”.
Identity - Values
According to OSMOSIS, intercultural education advocates both a political and social proposal within the frameworks of an intercultural community that encourages respect to ‘the different’ and protects the right of self-determination. Osmosis’ work is based upon a wide approach of the notion of civilization (as a dynamic construction of various perceptions, knowledge, values, behaviors, artefacts) and is not restricted between fixed boundaries. It is OSMOSIS' belief that each educational act should respect individuality, support heterogeneity and encourage interaction between individuals and groups.
Such a social and educational approach sets aside the traditional teaching and didacticism and suggests alternative and experiential methods that:
* Encourage personal and collective expression and create secure environments for exchanging and elaborating experiences.
* bring along the Self and the Other, foster the expression of diversities and similarities, encourage critical reflection on settled knowledge
* promote all types of expression and learning based on the theory of multiple intelligences and support the development of individual competences putting aside any barriers of social and educational exclusion
* are based on the participatory process and co-operation and promote creativity
Activities
OSMOSIS organizes:
- artistic and training programmes
- activities of cultural activism and artistic events so as to inform and motivate the public promoting social change
- events of applied theatre, such as
- Theatre of the oppressed
- Forum theatre, invisible theatre, newspaper theatre
- Theatre in the community
- Prison theatre
- Theatre–in-Education and Theatre-in-Adult-Education
- educational seminars and experiential workshops
- digital networking platform on cultural activism that relates organizations, groups and individuals
- festivals, exhibitions and other cultural activities related to visual arts
- conferences and seminar days
- research activities
The Mission
OSMOSIS recognizes art as the most effective “tool” of intercultural intervention. The organization’s work uses all forms of art – theatre, dance, music, visual arts, creative writing and digital image – in order to develop:
1. art programmes with various social groups (art as a subject):
theatrical performances, video art installations, art exhibitions, dance, concerts, digital exhibitions etc.
2. Educational – social programmes based on artistic methods (art as a method): theatrical play, role play, forum theatre etc.
Target groups:
- performers, visual artists, dancers, musicians, writers, drama-therapists, dance-therapists, theatre practitioners, musicians, animators
- activists
- NGO members, practitioners and volunteers
- educators, facilitators, in-service teachers, students, professors
- social workers, sociologists, psychologists and intercultural practitioners
- youth leaders, excluded social groups members and volunteers
- researchers
- intercultural programme coordinators at local and regional state/public authorities
- refugee community members
- anyone acknowledging the need for such a pedagogical and cultural approach
