STAR

Name of the project: STAR (STreet ARt for Social Inclusion)
Duration: 1. 11. 2019 – 31. 10. 2022 (36 months)
Funding: Europe for Citizens – Democratic engagement and civic participation, Network of Towns
EPMA‘s role: Partner

About

The project is creating a network with a common strategy promoting social inclusion and decreasing marginalization by rehabilitation of depressed and abandoned areas of European cities through street art.

It specifically aims at:

increasing citizens’ participation and solidarity;
connecting people of different backgrounds and cultures;
regenerating depressed and abandoned areas resulting in decreased marginalization;
public awareness raising activities to prevent discrimination and intolerance.

Nowadays European cities face a number of issues including fragmentation, stigmatization of various groups and social exclusion. The systemic meltdown of late 2000s as well as the European
migrant crisis and other societal issues, lead to degradation of certain areas in many cities, and the consequential marginalization of groups of people living there. These processes pose a threat to the well-being of people and to the sustainable development of cities in the EU. Therefore, there is a growing need for systematic actions towards urban regeneration and promotion of inclusion, active citizenship, and the sense of community among people. Societal and intercultural engagement is essential to ensure positive changes at local and international levels. An efficient tool for achieving this target is street art.

Street art is seen by the consortium as a form of social expression, which allows engagement of communities and the regeneration of neighborhoods; it can increase local identity, mutual understanding and solidarity. In addition, the development of an emotional connection to public areas through collective activities will contribute to the increase in citizens’ sense of belonging to these public places, whilst facilitating their sustainable use. Street art will be realized in cooperation with citizens, artists, migrants, schools and local organizations.

Partners