Project Information
Project Reference: 2020-1-NO02-KA227-YOU-001812
Status: Completed | Duration: March 1, 2021 – February 28, 2023 | EU Grant: €123,320
Programme: Erasmus+ | Action Type: Partnerships for Creativity
Countries Involved: Norway, Sweden, Finland
Background
In Norway, Sweden, and Finland, most people who visit cultural spaces or work in them come from white, middle-class backgrounds. This lack of diversity reduces the ability of the arts to represent society. The project Teen Advisory Board – In Character aimed to make the arts more inclusive by involving young people from diverse backgrounds and by helping institutions listen more carefully to youth voices.
Objectives
The project had three main objectives: to build skills inside cultural institutions, to create change in the wider cultural industry, and to encourage young people to see the arts as a field where they can belong and contribute. The project also wanted to show institutions how to become more welcoming and inclusive, so that in the future special programmes would no longer be needed.
Implementation
The project ran Teen Advisory Boards (TABs) in Oslo and Stockholm, with young people meeting monthly to learn, reflect, and propose changes. In 2022, the Finnish partner also started its own Youth Advisory Board. These groups worked with artists and professionals to influence institutional practice. The partners PRAKSIS, Index, and Publics shared experiences with each other, exchanging good practices and learning together during the whole project.
Key Activities
The youth boards attended workshops with professional artists and cultural workers. They contributed to conferences, created publications and podcasts, and helped design communication strategies for public events. Two transnational conferences in Helsinki brought together young people from Norway, Sweden, and Finland, encouraging cross-border dialogue. Launch events and a project website helped to share their work with a wider audience.
Results
The project produced two publications, six podcasts, and a website with details about workshops, participants, and outputs. Young people gained practical experience, professional networks, and skills in communication and creativity. Cultural institutions, on the other hand, benefited from the input of young people, which helped them to become more open and relevant for diverse audiences.
Impact
The project gave young people a strong voice in shaping the cultural sector. It encouraged more inclusion, equity, and participation in arts and culture, while also changing how institutions engage with youth. The exchange of knowledge across Norway, Sweden, and Finland promoted international cooperation and innovation. The project showed how involving young people directly in decision-making can lead to meaningful and sustainable change.
