We once asked a successful arts scholar about the key to building a rich cultural landscape in her field. Her answer was simple yet profound: It’s all about the people. These words resonate deeply with us as we reflect on the first year of the d@rts project—a year filled with collaboration, creativity, and shared purpose.
As we write this, winter in Norway is acting strangely. The air is cold, and the streets are covered in ice and snow, yet here and there, flowers are beginning to push through—delicate but persistent, blooming in the in-between spaces of the seasons. It is a reminder that growth happens in unexpected ways, that change does not follow a straight path, and that even in the most challenging conditions, something new and beautiful can emerge. In many ways, this feels like a fitting metaphor for our journey with d@rts.
This past year has been marked by significant moments, starting with our public Kick-Off event on January 18, 2024. With around 100 participants from all over the world, the event sparked meaningful discussions on cultural literacy through the arts, setting the stage for everything that followed.
A major highlight was our general assembly and consortium meeting in Bodø in July, where in-person conversations strengthened our sense of community. We engaged with our advisory board, delved into work package meetings, and found inspiration at Tangle/Untangle: What can the arts do in times of change?, an event at Stormen Konserthus, beautifully organised by Sarah and Sveinung. In addition, WP7’s decolonial workshop provided a critical space to challenge perspectives on power, knowledge, and cultural literacy, reinforcing our shared commitment to inclusivity and ethical research.
The world is shifting rapidly, and we recognize that our work is more urgent than ever. Education—and in d@rts, arts education—plays a crucial role in navigating today’s social changes. To write this newsletter without acknowledging what is happening around us would be to overlook the very essence of d@rts—values that are deeply democratic. And democracy is not just about accommodating difference; it depends on it. This demands a shift in mindset, both politically and educationally. Now more than ever, innovative policies and practices are needed to ensure that cultural literacy fosters dialogue, understanding, and inclusion. d@rts is not just a response to this need—it is part of the change.
One of the key pillars of our work has been ensuring ethical integrity, and we are grateful for our external ethical advisor, Dr. Alison Fox from The Open University, whose guidance has helped us navigate complex ethical landscapes with care and insight.
Beyond our own project, we have also fostered connections with our sister projects in the HORIZON-HERITAGE cluster, CliVie and Expect_Art. These collaborations have not only strengthened our shared mission but have also paved the way for a joint symposium presentation at ECER 2025 in Belgrade—an exciting opportunity to amplify our collective impact.
Leading this project, we have come to understand that cultural literacy is not just something we research—it is something we live and practice every day. Across time zones and borders, we have met each other in early mornings and late evenings, some with coffee in hand, others winding down with a drink. More than that, this consortium has demonstrated a rare and invaluable willingness to go beyond what is expected—to engage, to challenge, and to reimagine what cultural literacy can be.
We still remember the excitement when we received the funding—and the following moment of realization: Now we actually have to do it! But we did. And we did it together. When we asked some of you what stood out most from this first year, you answered: collaboration, creativity, sauna, conversations, academic friendships, evolution, and, of course, the best GA.
This year has also seen the completion of several key deliverables—each one a testament to your hard work. These achievements mark just the beginning, and we are deeply grateful to be on this journey with such a brilliant, passionate, and engaged consortium. Thank you for making the first year of d@rts so rewarding.
We still remember the excitement when we received the funding—and the following moment of realization: Now we actually have to do it! But we did. And we did it together. When we asked some of you what stood out most from this first year, you answered: collaboration, creativity, sauna, conversations, academic friendships, evolution, and, of course, the best GA.
This year has also seen the completion of several key deliverables—each one a testament to your hard work. These achievements mark just the beginning, and we are deeply grateful to be on this journey with such a brilliant, passionate, and engaged consortium. Thank you for making the first year of d@rts so rewarding.
As we look ahead, we are reminded of those flowers blooming between the ice and snow—growing in unexpected places, adapting, and thriving against the odds. Perhaps d@rts is like that too, forging new paths, breaking through barriers, and flourishing because of the people who make it what it is.
We cannot wait to see again all the d@rts partners in Chemnitz in July for our next GA and consortium meeting—continuing our conversations, exchanging ideas, and strengthening our collaboration. Until then, thank you for your creativity, your dedication, and for making d@rts the inspiring community that it is.
Because in the end, and in the beginning, it truly is all about the people.
With gratitude,
Jens & Runa