Community Arts for Civic Engagement and Social Change - Comas

06/02/2026

After 2 years, 5 countries, and countless workshops, festivals, conversations, experiments, mistakes, and learning moments, the ComAS journey is coming to a close.

Together with artists, youth workers, educators, and community members across Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Spain, and Greece, we explored how arts and creativity can become powerful tools for connection, dialogue, and civic engagement.

We followed a very practical approach: we came together, brainstormed, experimented, developed our ideas, and then tested them at real events across Europe to engage people through expression and the arts, fostering participation and dialogue.

Over the course of the project, we:
• delivered 35+ creative workshops at international community engagement events
• carried out 30+ local initiatives, sharing experiences and methods at home
• engaged hundreds of people through participatory art, dialogue, and creation
Some moments that stayed with us:
• witnessing young people find the courage to bring their initiatives to life in an international context
• watching strangers create together and build connections through shared creative processes
• noticing how art and expression can open conversations that words often cannot

📘 Along the way, we gathered everything we learned into something we can pass on:

THE COMAS BOOK – A Hands-On Guide for Creative Workshops and Community Art Projects

A field-tested, adaptable resource that includes:
• practical step-by-step guidance for designing workshops and community art projects
• ready-to-use creative workshop formats
• reflections on community arts, non-formal education, and facilitation

The book is designed mainly for youth workers, facilitators, artists, educators, NGOs, and anyone working with people and creativity, and it is freely available to download.

👉 📥 Download the ComAS Booklet, and read more about our journey here:
🌐 https://www.comas-project.com/

Thank you to all partners, participants, communities, and collaborators who shaped this journey with your work, commitment, and creativity. 💛
This may be the end of the ComAS project, but not the end of the story.

The next creative journey is already unfolding.

23/01/2026

10/10/2025

✨ We’re excited to share the outcomes of the fifth and final community engagement training of the ComAS project in Patras, Greece! 🇬🇷

From 23 June – 1 July 2025, our participants stayed in Patras and took part in ASTO Festival — a multidisciplinary celebration of art, civic engagement, and community.

Throughout the week, our participants developed and delivered a diverse range of community art workshops and initiatives, transforming the festival grounds into spaces of creativity, dialogue, and reflection:
1️⃣ Interviews – capturing personal stories and motivations of festival participants and workshop leaders through short video conversations.
2️⃣ Mirror of Childhood – a collaborative artwork where people shared childhood memories by drawing on a mirror, creating a collective story.
3️⃣ “How Do You Feel?” Installation – an emotional mapping activity where visitors expressed their moods before and after the festival.
4️⃣ Continue the Painting – a large-scale community canvas, evolving through continuous contributions from children and adults alike.
5️⃣ Watering Dreams – a theatrical and participatory performance inspired by ASTO’s values, combining play, planting, and imagination.
6️⃣ Self-discovery Drawing – a meditative drawing session focused on reflection, relaxation, and personal growth.
7️⃣ Weaving with Plants – an eco-art workshop using natural materials to weave a community tapestry.
8️⃣ Persephone’s Mural – a mythology-inspired mural where locals drew themselves as characters, exploring identity and storytelling.
9️⃣ Releasing & (Re)Grounding – a reflective writing and mindful movement workshop to support healing, body awareness, and connection.
🇪🇺 Erasmus+ Info Space
As in every station, we created a space to share about Erasmus+ and European opportunities.

🌟 The Impact
Based on participant feedback, engagement ranged from small groups of 10–30 in deep dialogue to 50+ locals taking part in larger workshops. Altogether, we shared many hundreds of meaningful interactions with the community. Some participants described full immersion — talking with locals, inviting them into community art, and sparking reflections on values, belonging, and civic life. This is where the true depth of this work lies.

💖 Thank you to all participants, local partners, and the ASTO Festival team for your efforts and contributions.

08/10/2025

✨ We’re excited to share the wonderful results of the fourth community engagement training of the ComAS project in Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain! 🇪🇸

From 15–23 June 2025, our participants developed and delivered a wide range of community art workshops and initiatives during the Fortaleza Sound Festival.

We faced some unexpected turns that required quick adaptation and improvisation — our location was set in a more remote part of the festival, away from the central stage, and the concerts originally planned for our square were cancelled! 🎭🌱
Still, the area remained lively with many people passing by, which gave us the perfect opportunity to engage directly with children, young people, and adults — inviting them into moments of creative expression and meaningful dialogue.

Here’s what we brought to life:
1️⃣ Feelings in Colours – bracelet-making and emotional awareness through color.
2️⃣ Splash Playground – kids splashed paint with water guns to create a collective artwork.
3️⃣ Take a Step – an interactive social awareness role-play on privilege and inequality.
4️⃣ The Mirror of the Community – locals captured their town through photography and shared personal reflections.
5️⃣ Mandala workshop –translating the atmosphere and feelings into colors and shapes.
6️⃣ Tree Gallery – drawings and interpretations of the word “Fortaleza,” hung in the trees for all to see.
7️⃣ Collective Poetry – a living community poem written together on the streets of Lorca.
8️⃣ Trash Art – an environmental awareness action using cigarette butts and public voting with trash.
9️⃣ Destino Soñado – a collaborative mural of dream travel destinations. ✈️✨
🇪🇺 Erasmus+ Info Station
We set up a space where locals could discover Erasmus+ and European opportunities, sparking curiosity and conversations about mobility and civic participation.

🌟 The Impact
Based on the feedback we received, our participants engaged with hundreds of people — some connected deeply one on one, while others reached dozens at once. For some, it was more challenging, for others, it came naturally. What’s certain is that together we transformed an unexpected situation into a vibrant space of creativity, intercultural dialogue, and community engagement. Thanks to their energy and commitment, a square that could have remained empty after the concert cancellation instead became a place full of life, art, and connection. 🎨✨

💖Thank you to all our amazing participants, who worked a lot to make it happen! Your creativity, courage, and openness made this station of ComAS very memorable.

20/11/2024

✨ We're excited to share the amazing outcomes of the third community engagement event and training of the ComAS project, which took place across multiple locations in the breathtakingly beautiful Estonia! 🇪🇪

Here's what we achieved together:

🌿 At Tammispea Camp
We developed and delivered a drawing and sketching workshop as well as a music and improvisation workshop for the youth at the camp.

🇪🇺Erasmus Escape Room
Our participants created an innovative and interactive Erasmus+ Escape Room to raise awareness about Erasmus+ opportunities. The escape room featured riddles, clues, and a short drama performance, making it an exciting, engaging experience for the participants.

🎨 In Viljandi
We teamed up with the incredible Kunstikompott art event. Together with local youth, artists, and experienced mentors, our participants contributed to an immersive art event and public exhibition! The program was bursting with creativity and included activities such as performance art, installation art, street art, graffiti, costume design, filmmaking, freeing the inner clown workshop, sculpture-making, and an emotional release workshop focused on sharing and reflection. It was a true celebration of collaborative artistry!

🎨✨ In Tallinn
At the IZUM Centre of Education and Development, we painted two vibrant community murals to decorate a classroom and created interactive games for the school’s garden, adding creativity and joy to the space.

The workshops focused on key themes like cooperation, creativity, self-esteem, and authentic self-expression. They encouraged participants to step out of their comfort zones, try something new, engage in meaningful reflection, and connect through art and dialogue—while also having fun and learning new skills and competencies along the way.

🎥 Video Interviews
Our participants conducted video interviews with local artists, teachers, event organizers, and representatives from the activities we joined. These interviews beautifully highlighted the importance of expressive arts, youth work, and inclusive community.

🌟 The Impact
Through their dedication, energy, and active involvement, our participants developed and delivered a long list of activities and connected with hundreds personally-both kids and adults, locals and internationals- sparking inspiration, creativity, and empowerment at every step of the journey.

💖 A huge THANK YOU to all the incredible participants, local partners, and everyone who contributed to making this event so versatile, rich, vibrant,-sometimes hectic and chaotic in a fruitful way- and unforgettable. Your passion, creativity, and hard work brought the ComAS project to life in Estonia.

🚀We can't wait to continue this amazing journey in Spain and Greece in 2025.

16/11/2024

We're thrilled to share the incredible results of the second community engagement event and training of the ComAS project at the Youth Summer Fest in Timișoara, Romania! 🇷🇴

Over the course of the event, our amazing participants designed 8 and delivered 7 dynamic, art- and self-expression-focused workshops, offering two full days of engaging activities for the youth house and the festival-goers. Here's what we brought to life:

1️⃣ Conscious Body Movement
2️⃣ How to Play as a Kid Again
3️⃣ Elements Cocktail
4️⃣ Treasure Hunt
5️⃣ Hand and Foot Painting
6️⃣ Moody Moving
7️⃣ Stress First Aid
✨ PLUS: An unforgettable, immersive Escape Room experience called “Rise of the Machine,” designed to foster communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving in an intercultural environment.

Our workshops aimed to promote key themes such as mental health awareness, cooperation and creativity, self-esteem, and confidence in authentic self-expression. They encouraged participants to share, reflect, and engage in meaningful dialogue while also having fun and learning new skills.

🎨 Community Art Initiative: Fantasysoara
We also created a community mural, painting two massive concrete rings near the F**t Youth Centre. Local youth and festival visitors contributed their creativity to this collaborative project, leaving behind a beautifully versatile and symbolic piece of art for the community.

🎯 Erasmus Info Point:
During the festival, we hosted an interactive Erasmus info point, sharing valuable insights and opportunities about the Erasmus+ program through games and engaging activities.

🎥 Video Interviews:
Our participants took things to the next level by conducting video interviews with visitors, local F**t volunteers, and representatives of ComAS partners, gathering stories and perspectives to further highlight the importance of volunteering, youth work and community engagement.

🌟 The Impact:
Through their dedication and active involvement, our participants connected with 250-300 festival-goers and local volunteers, encouraging intercultural dialogue, spreading inspiration, creativity, and empowerment.

An honest thank you to all our incredible participants for making this event so rich, vibrant, and meaningful! Your hard work, enthusiasm, and creativity helped to shape the Youth Summer Fest, and this experience as a whole.

We can’t wait to see what’s next for this journey! ❤️

28/07/2024

🌟 We’re excited to share the amazing results of the first community engagement event and training of the ComAS project at Waldorfeszt, Hungary! 🌟

Our incredible participants developed 10 and delivered 9 complete art and self-expression-related workshop sessions, totaling over 16 hours of engaging activities throughout the festival. These workshops focused on key aims such as developing creativity, boosting self-esteem, encouraging authentic self-expression, raising self-awareness, and gaining confidence. Each session also encouraged sharing and dialogue among participants and included a reflection part to ensure awareness of the learnings.
Additionally, we initiated a community art project called the Mythical Forest. We set up a creative base with tools and clay, inviting festival-goers to create and add their fantasy creatures to the forest.

Throughout the 3 days, we hosted an Erasmus info point where we offered interactive games and activities to promote Erasmus opportunities.

Our participants also conducted video interviews with festival-goers and some of the organizers, capturing the vibrant spirit of Waldorfeszt. Actively engaging with festival-goers on multiple levels, our participants successfully connected with around 300-450 people in person.

A massive thank you to all our amazing participants! Your enthusiasm and creativity made this event richer and more versatile both in terms of program and culture. We hope to see you all again soon!

🌿🎨✨

08/05/2024

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Calling all changemakers! 📢 Our first community engagement course is just around the corner, and we can't wait to kick things off in Hungary at Waldorfeszt – a truly magical festival filled with love and creativity! 🎉✨

We're on the lookout for enthusiastic participants from 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇬🇷Greece, 🇪🇸 Spain and 🇷🇴Romania to join us on this transformative journey. 🌍 If you're ready to make a difference and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience, don't miss out! Simply fill out the application form included in our info pack 📝
Let's come together and create positive change through art and community engagement. 💫
📍Deadline to apply: 19th of May.
📍Selection of participants: 23rd of May

   Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you want to develop your skills, connect with like-minded individuals, and be part of an exciting project that promotes positive social change?  

25/04/2024

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 We're thrilled to announce the kickoff of our innovative project aimed at fostering community engagement and social change through art! 🎨✨ Join us as we embark on a journey to promote active citizenship, social entrepreneurship and arts for civic engagement and community development across Europe. 🌍 🗣🛫Get ready for dynamic international training events tied to 5 local community events and festivals in Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, and Greece, where participants will develop their skills, create community art with the involvement of the locals and deliver art-related workshops. Within the framework of ComAS project, we will also develop a comprehensive booklet for community engagement through arts, an online learning platform and an art gallery.
💭📣Stay tuned for updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and opportunities to get involved! Together, we'll create a positive impact and build stronger, more inclusive societies. 💫

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