Exploratory Workshop for Participatory Visual Methods

I was among the organizers and presenters of the first Exploratory Workshop for Participatory Visual Methods at our university. The full-day workshop was held on 13 May 2016 as a cooperation of researchers from the Department of Arts and Culture Studies, the Centre for Applied Language Studies and the Department of Languages. Six papers, three exhibitions and 77 registered participants were included in discussions of societally engaged scholarly work. By the end of the day, the significance of the relationship between researchers and participants was underlined. That is, visual methods do not only explore stories about the people investigated, but also reflect on the researcher's position.

An attractive poster invited the attendees to the venue

I was invited by the co-organizer Arts of Belonging project to write a report for their blog. I happily accepted the invitation and today the text was published. It has been a pleasure to work with them, and we are now looking forward to continue our cooperation.

As the team members summarize, the project Arts of Belonging focuses on

concrete aspects of and the analysis of the artefacts used in the affective processes of belonging. How do individuals and groups attach to places? How are cultural artefacts used to strengthen the sense of belonging?

In connection with education, I am also interested in how students, teachers and parents express their relationship with their school community in relation to the premises they co-inhabit. That is, together with the project team members we have many things to think about from various perspectives, and discussions such this workshop really stimulate my understanding of my topic.

Szabó, T. P. 2016. Exploratory Workshop for Participatory Visual Methods: a subjective commentary. Arts of Belonging blog, 25 May. URL: http://artsofbelonging.org/?p=324