Kreativno ljeto u POUP-u

CREATIVE SUMMER AT THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF POREČ – CREATIVITY, ART AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S EXPRESSION

This summer, the Open University of Poreč became a meeting place for young people, art and creativity. As part of the Creative Summer at the Open University of Poreč programme, four free creative workshops were held for children and young people aged 11 to 16. Participants had the opportunity to explore different artistic techniques, develop their own ideas and create unique works of art.

The programme began with the “Design Your Own Pencil Case” workshop, led by Leana Štasny Kernjus. From the first sketches and the selection of patterns and colours to the finished products, the participants transformed their ideas into functional and original pencil cases. The creative process was filled with experimentation, enthusiasm and personal expression, while the finished pieces showed just how much imagination can fit into one small object.

The next workshop, “Create Your Own Fashion Piece,” introduced the young designers to the world of fashion and design. Tables covered with materials, sketches and creative mess soon turned into spaces for creating unique garments. The participants cut, sewed and shaped their own creations, transforming their initial ideas into wearable fashion pieces. Each finished work reflected the individuality, creativity and effort invested in its creation.

The programme also featured a cyanotype workshop, an intriguing photographic technique that allowed participants to discover photography from before the digital age. Through the interplay of light and botanical motifs, numerous blue prints were created, while the participants explored the possibilities of this unique technique through experimentation. The workshop took place in a lively and positive atmosphere, and the resulting artworks once again demonstrated the creative possibilities offered by artistic exploration.

The programme concluded with a five-day art workshop, “Deconstructing the Landscape / Landscape and Its Deconstruction,” inspired by the 66th Poreč Annale and the exhibition “(In)stability of the Horizon.” Led by mentor Janis Beletić, the participants began the workshop with a visit to the exhibition at the Istrian Assembly Hall, where, through discussion of contemporary artworks, they explored different ways of observing, experiencing and interpreting art.

During the workshop, they explored colour and line as tools of visual expression, drew emotions and, through tonal and graphic modelling, learned different ways of creating volume, space and atmosphere. Through colour modulation and warm–cool contrasts, they discovered how colour can convey emotion, create mood and shape the way an image is experienced. The landscape served as a starting point for exploring abstract expression and developing a personal artistic language.

The creative journey concluded with a presentation of the participants’ works in the theatre foyer, where Daria, Mariia, Tihana and Veronika presented the results of their work to the public. Their artworks brought together five days of exploration, learning, experimentation and personal artistic expression.

Throughout the Creative Summer at the Open University of Poreč programme, young participants had the opportunity to learn through hands-on experience, discover different artistic techniques and, most importantly, freely develop their own ideas. From design and fashion to experimental photography and contemporary visual art, each workshop created space for making something new and unique.

A big thank you to all the participants, mentors and everyone who helped make this Creative Summer so special!

The Creative Summer at the Open University of Poreč may have come to an end, but the artworks created, experiences shared and new ideas discovered remain as its most beautiful and lasting result.