Project Objective: To reduce the social and emotional exclusion experienced by senior residents of Utena, Lithuania, including those with oncological experiences, by strengthening their self-esteem, emotional well-being, and connection with the community.
Target Group: Senior residents of the city of Utena, Lithuania, including seniors with oncological experiences or other health-related challenges.
Project Description: The project will consist of a series of creative workshops aimed at promoting the social inclusion and self-expression of elderly individuals experiencing social isolation. Through the mediums of textiles and garment design, alongside educational experiences and self-reflection, participants will explore personal narratives and collective memory, translating these into tangible creative outcomes. The project will establish a safe and supportive environment that promotes engagement, social interaction, and shared creative practices, contributing to stronger community bonds, reduced feelings of loneliness, and increased participation in cultural activities. The outcomes of the project will be shared publicly, while the creative process and the participants' contributions will be curated in a formal digital publication.
Project activities:
creative workshops introducing participants to the fundamentals of textile and garment design, during which they will develop their own creative outcomes;
reflection and self-awareness sessions aimed at transforming personal memories and lived experiences into creative concepts;
educational visits to cultural institutions, intended to provide inspiration and strengthen participants’ connection to the fields of textile and design;
creative development processes focused on the creation of individual textile and garment collections.
Project outcomes:
the implementation of creative and educational activities involving participants from the target group;
strengthened self-expression, increased self-confidence, and more active engagement in community life among participants;
the development of individual textile and garment collections;
a public exhibition of creative works presented in the city of Utena, Lithuania;
a digital publication showcasing the project process and participants’ creative outcomes.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the partner organisations, Association for Oncological Diseases „Vilties kelias“ and Association „Įtraukties akademija“, which contribute to engaging the target group and implementing project activities.
The project contributes to the objectives of the Utena City Local Development Strategy, which aims to promote social integration and expand socio-cultural services.
The project is co-financed by the European Union, the Republic of Lithuania (national co-financing), and the budget of Utena District Municipality.
PROJECT “NOSTALGIA: MEMORIES THROUGH TEXTILES AND GARMENTS” No. 11-074-K-0001
