Flexible — from intensive workshops (2–5 days) to long-term mentoring processes extending over several months.
Where can it be used
Indoor / outdoor / online / public space / classroom / community space
Group size
8 to 20 participants
Objective
The objective of this method is supporting young artists and cultural practitioners in developing their ideas through collective reflection, contextual research, and peer learning. It encourages participants to connect artistic practice with community engagement, collaborative processes, and critical self-reflection. The mentoring process helps participants build confidence, sustain long-term engagement, and articulate their work in relation to broader social and cultural contexts.
When to use it
This method is particularly useful during the research, development, reflection, and continuation phases of a Collective Action Project. It supports groups and individuals when generating ideas, defining project directions, navigating uncertainty, and reflecting on process and collaboration. It is also valuable in peer mentoring environments and interdisciplinary educational contexts.
Step-by-step guide
1. Establish a shared learning environment
Begin by creating a collaborative and non-hierarchical space where participants feel comfortable sharing references, questions, doubts, and unfinished ideas. Introduce mentoring as a process of exchange and collective learning rather than evaluation.
2. Start from participants’ interests and contexts
Invite participants to present their interests, ongoing concerns, materials, observations, or project ideas. Encourage them to connect personal interests with broader social, spatial, ecological, or cultural contexts.
3. Use dialogue and reflection as working tools
Organize regular discussions, reading sessions, studio conversations, walks, presentations, or peer feedback sessions. Focus on asking open questions that help participants reflect on process, intention, context, and responsibility.
4. Encourage experimentation and process-based development
Support participants in testing ideas through sketches, temporary interventions, writing, mapping, documentation, installations, or performative actions. Emphasize experimentation, iteration, and process over finalized outcomes.
5. Facilitate peer mentoring and collective feedback
Encourage participants to respond to each other’s work through collective reflection and constructive dialogue. Create situations where participants learn not only from the mentor, but also from observing and supporting one another.
6. Integrate reflection and articulation
Throughout the process, support participants in articulating their intentions, challenges, and learning experiences through journaling, presentations, group reflections, or collective discussions.
7. Conclude with collective sharing
End the process with a public presentation, open discussion, exhibition, publication, or informal gathering that allows participants to share both their outcomes and their process of learning and collaboration.
Materials needed
Notebooks or journals
Paper, pens, markers
Projector or shared presentation tools
Documentation materials (camera, phone, audio recorder)
Flexible workspace for discussion and experimentation
Reading/reference materials relevant to participants’ interests
Tips for facilitators
The facilitator should encourage careful observation without rushing toward solutions or immediate action. The facilitator should create conditions for transparent decision-making while allowing disagreement and multiple perspectives to remain part of the process. The facilitator’s role is to support continuity, mediate tensions, and help the group remain engaged without prematurely resolving conflicts. In the final stage, the facilitatour should allow the participants to situate their work socially, communicate the process to others, and collectively reflect on how the project may continue beyond the initial intervention.
Possible variations
This method can be adapted to artistic, educational, ecological, or community-based contexts and works with individuals or groups of different ages and experience levels. It may function within workshops, residency programs, schools, community initiatives, collective research environments, or interdisciplinary collaborations. The process can focus on artistic production, community engagement, storytelling, spatial practice, or research-based learning depending on the participants and context.
