Motivating children for creativeness through modern research art experience

Modern research art arises from the cross point between science, technology and society. Artists thematise the influence of computers, internet, mechatronics, cybernetics, biotechnology through various projects. These activities are changing the society in which children comprehend various technologies as their real environment. They were born in it and it is not out of our human domain. Due to the fact that technologies are not innocent but rather ideological, the understanding of little “black boxes”, which cannot be opened and see the inside, is entirely disabled. In workshops led by artists from modern research art field children learn fundamental principles of various technologies and start to comprehend grounds for given technological solutions. Regardless of whether it is all about computer science or biotechnology, children by hands-on activities, do-it-yourself (DIY), do-it-together (DITO) activities disassemble and assemble products and learn about different technologies. Moreover, they co-create them in their own way (hacking). During the process of learning and working with highly advanced technology children lose fear of ultimate power and also determination which is integrated in the given technological solutions.

Petkove akademije (Friday Academies) aim to develop the community of children who will collaborate in share knowledge transferred to them by mentors. We build gaming initiative in their peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge, which enables children to progress onto higher levels and open up opportunities for collaboration in national and international networking, competitions and rewards. The role of mentors in workshops is encouraging and facilitating knowledge transfer, control over the use of machines and encouraging potentials in each individual since children select themes or products which they wish to conquer. Our aim is to create the community of non-disciplinary creators who solve problems in utterly unconventional ways by using holistic approach. Their share common values of sharing, collective co-creation (do it together), open source knowledge, fair trade etc.