Carried out by the Mordem Art and Ecological Living Association under the Kültür için Alan (Space for Culture) Micro-Grant Programme, the “Art Harvest in Our Village” project took place between 1 June and 27 November 2020 in villages in central and rural Diyarbakır. Lasting six months, the project was successfully implemented both online and in person despite the challenges of the pandemic, with creative drama and theatre-focused activities aimed especially at children with limited access to the arts.
The main aim of the project was to introduce children living in rural areas to theatre, develop their creative potential and make art a part of their everyday lives. The project consisted of three stages: because of the pandemic, the first stage began with digital workshops held online. Face-to-face training sessions and theatre rehearsals with village children followed. Finally, a total of 12 theatre performances were staged in the city and in the villages, involving the children in the process both as audience members and as performers.
The process of preparing the plays enabled the children to gain stage experience and supported their physical and mental development. Not only the children but also their parents became part of the process. Thanks to the digital setting, parents accompanied their children’s education as both spectators and participants. This helped girls in particular to become more visible in the workshops. Through a shared experience, the project showed that artistic production is possible in villages and that children in rural areas can also access knowledge and art.
The project was not merely a theatre activity; thanks to a strong communication network built with local actors, lasting relationships were also developed with teachers and school administrators in the region. This network became an important reference point for future child-focused art projects.