To provide accessible creative and psychosocial programming for children in Odesa through museum-based partnerships with emerging art educators, while building professional, teaching, and leadership skills among young Ukrainian cultural practitioners.

• 5 million+ Ukrainian children affected by conflict-related trauma.

• Institutions in Odessa are underutilized as community spaces.

• Young art graduates lack teaching practice and professional preparation.

Pilot aim: weekly creative workshops for 20–30 children (ages 7–10), facilitated by art students and recent graduates under professional supervision, held at partner institutions in Odesa. Concludes with a public community exhibition.

• Component 1: Competitive Open Call with Faculty Involvement

  Development Workshop Series professional development sessions for participating art students:

  • Trauma-informed facilitation and working with children

  • Creative resilience and professional wellbeing

  • Portfolio development and career planning

  • Community arts project management and leadership

  This component finishes with students submitting their portfolio including: their artwork, an artist resume, an artist statement, and a proposal for a workshop based on one of the Odesa museums. The submissions will be evaluated by a group of international judges, resulting with a selection of best 10 candidates.

• Component 2: Children’s Museum-Based Creative Workshops

  Weekly sessions held in partnering museums and schools. Each session is facilitated under supervision of a professional educator.

  Session curriculum (indicative):

  • Drawing and observational art inspired by museum collections

  • Collage, textile and decorative arts

  • Storytelling and narrative illustration

  • Collaborative murals and group projects with Odesa/Ukraine cultural themes

  • Movement, play, and imagination-based creative activities

  Safety Protocol

  All sessions are designed with trauma-informed facilitation principles. A qualified educator or social worker will be available as an advisor. Sessions can be adapted or paused in the event of air raid alerts or security incidents, with a clear continuity plan.

• Component 3: Community Exhibition & Closing Event

  The pilot concludes with a public exhibition showcasing children's artwork and student portfolios, held at the partner space. The event is open to families, school partners, institutional stakeholders, and local press.