The initiator of the studio is the Institute for Inclusive Education Research at the Faculty of Education of Masaryk University in Brno. The studio is located in Room 04019.
The origin of the studio in Brno at the Faculty of Education of Masaryk University was within the framework of a Postdoc project from 2013 to 2015 and is connected with the work of Dr. Pavel Sochor, Ph.D., who developed the concept of this study on the basis of his own long-standing experience (e.g. Kamélie Home for the Handicapped, Bandista – a music and cultural centre), research activities, participation in conferences abroad organized by the Association for Outsider Art and internships in Finland.
The aim of the study is to create a creative and specific environment in which the principles of inclusion through art and art therapy forms are fulfilled. Art creation as one of the tools for promoting inclusion is a concept described in the following publications:
- SOCHOR, P. Umění a inkluze. In PANČOCHA, K., VÍTKOVÁ, M. et al. Analýza sociálních determinantů inkluzivního vzdělávání. Brno : MU, 2013. ISBN 978-80-210-6457-7. ( SOCHOR, P. Art and Inclusion. In PANČOCHA, K., VÍTKOVÁ, M. et al. Analysis of social determinants of inclusive education. Brno: MU, 2013. ISBN 978-80-210-6457-7.)
- SOCHOR, P. Člověk s postižení a výtvarná tvorba. Od zobrazování k autorství. Brno: MU, 2015. ISBN978-80-210-7925-0. (A person with disabilities and the creation of art. From displaying to authorship. Brno: MU, 2015. ISBN978-80-210-7925-0.)
- SOCHOR, Pavel. Disability and art creation. Brno: Masaryk University, 2014. ISBN 978-80-210-7579-5.
Thus, the concept of the studio has a similar philosophy to that of art centres abroad represented by the following organizations, with which Mgr. Pavel Sochor, Ph.D., cooperates. These are Gugging (Austria), the Kaarisilta Art Centre (Finland) and Inuti (Sweden). Together with a team of instructors, this studio is run at the Institute for Research in Inclusive Education at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University. Under the guidance of Dr. Karel Pančocha, the institute currently supports this project, which has the dimension of applied qualitative research.
The target group is children, adolescents and adults with otherness. The creative space is open to everyone according to their abilities and skills. The outcomes and the creation process can be referred to as Outsider art, Disability art, Art brut or Art for Therapy. The instructors take specific learning needs into account and have an individual approach to their students if necessary for the authentic creative process of creation. They seek to help develop each student’s unique artistic language.
The pedagogical work of the instructors is aimed at strengthening the communication, self-esteem and self-experience of students. Students’ parents and friends can perceive their achievements both in the study community and in the presentation of art in public. Thus, the strengths of the students are shown, which can be built on in their further education or employment. The educational content of the studio is mediated in the form of individual and group work in a studio environment.
The open art studio is a member of the European Outsider Art Association (EOA).
http://www.outsiderartassociation.eu/
Areas we have been focusing on for a long time:
1 / Expressive Therapy in concept of Art for Therapy
2 / Art education of children, adolescents and adults with specific educational needs
3 / Support of non-professional artists with otherness
Čeština