The Engagement of Children and Teens in Urban Projects. The Case of “Drugoy Danilov” Project

Abstract

This article analyzes the involvement of children and teens living in small towns in sociocultural projects to make and rethink urban public spaces. Working on project “Arch_i_tip” [Archetype] with children and teens in May 2017, the author saw the schoolchildren merely following instructions. However, in 2019–2020, as projects further unfolded, participants started initiating their own creative urban interventions more often.

The long-term cooperation of students and tutor-artists on historical graffiti and art objects, a city map, and a funny city guide brought into being “Drugoy Danilov”, a community of people who had never met each other before and an umbrella project. This community became an active and legitimate participant in local urban cultural projects (contests of town beautification projects, developing tourist routes and entertainment). Seeking a place for the community to meet led to the opening of their own cultural center “Lenina 21” which had been a dispossessed villa. Now students have grown and can operate “Lenina 21” on a par with adults. The article reveals the secrets of teen involvement and retention in the key projects “Arch_i_tip”, “Demonstration aid for funny walks through Danilov composed by its young citizens”, “Open city. Artists for children. Creative practicum” and “Lenina 21”. It describes the achievements and struggles faced while testing different approaches for working with schoolchildren. The author suggests three types of recommendations for project leaders working with schoolchildren: 1) how to deal with children and teens; 2) how to choose an art mentor for this audience; 3) spatial requirements for meetings of young people.