Using arts and storytelling

as a tool for social change

Xsentrik Projects

We collaborate on projects we feel make a difference in our communities. Whether they be research, exchange, capacity building – we are contributors on various EU and government funded collaborations. Some are international in scope, some local. All however, contribute towards our purpose of improving our environments, supporting sustainable practices, telling the stories of communities, and producing work that can help create impact.  Here’s a brief summary of some, you can read more on these projects if you access their individual pages via the menu.

Collaborative efforts

“we combine  research methods with artistic practice, capacity building and exchange to activate and promote social change, sustainability, inclusion and well-being – in our built environment as well as within ourselves and amongst each other.” 

BioYouToon

Bio-You Toon is a 24-month Cooperation Partnership that aims to raise awareness and foster education on the critical importance of biodiversity among today’s youth.The project aims to empower young people to take action in biodiversity conservation and cultivate collaborations between youth NGOs and budding researchers, all through an innovative medium: comics.Through “BioYouToon” the Consortium will harness the captivating power of Webtoon storytelling to engage and inspire youth across the globe.

A series of interactive and visually stunning webcomics (created by local artists) will transport readers into a world where biodiversity comes alive. Through compelling narratives, relatable characters, and thought-provoking plotlines, the stories will immerse young readers in the wonders of nature and awaken their sense of responsibility as stewards of our planet.

Biodiversity conservation through storytelling

Project partners included Placemaking Europe (NL), Sport for All (RO), VSport (PL), Azur Spor Sante (FR), and XsentrikArts (AT).

Park(ING) Day for Fitness

Funded by the European Union and co-ordinated by BG Beactive; Park(ING) day for Fitness is a sports project that transforms public spaces into pop-up sports spots. The goal of the project is to promote an active lifestyle in our built environment. 

As Austrian partner:

we networked: we reached out to grassroots organizations and built up a network of practitioners to create Parking Spot events. We assisted in overcoming bureaucratic procedures and permissions, as well as in organizing the resources and infrastructure for the events.

we organized: a series of sporting events in in Viennese districts

we built capacities and fostered exchange:  through webinars and multiplier events;

we conducted research: through questionnaires and interviews

we disseminated project experiences and results: by doing what we do best and telling the stories of the events and organizations we partnered with, through videos and films, social media updates and communications. You can view the films here.

Begegnungsorte

Funded by the Federal Chancellery of Austria and initiatied by XsentrikArts, Begegnungsorte is a project that researches local initiatives that contribute to the development of local culture and identity, and create a sense of belonging in the neighbourhoods and districts they’re active in.

We used our strength as storytellers to capture the stories of the initiatives we researched, and created short documentary style films. You can view the films here.

 We also created a web platform, which we continue to develop and add to: Begegnungsorte

Revitalizing Lezha & Community Led Heritage Development in Peja

Two distinct exchange projects, both funded by the Austrian Development Agency and implemented by Wonderland. Both projects were based on knowledge exchange and the creation of roadmaps with local stakeholders in the Balkan region, through workshops and lectures.

As Xsentrikarts, we aided to the publication and the creation of exchange webinars and online events.

A publication with guidelines and best practices to inspire community led activation was published, you can access the publication here.

Online workshops were made publicly available on social media channels and the Wonderland website, you can access the exchange sessions and capacity building webinars here.

The Open Heritage Short Documentary Films

Funded by Horizon Europe , Open Heritage is a project that researched and highlighted community led heritage development efforts and initiatives.

We were subcontracted by Open Heritage Partners to map and gather the stories of local stakeholders in repurposed industrial heritage sites.

A series of documentary films, on each location, was produced and the results were further published as interactive stories online.

We used our strength as storytellers once more to capture the stories of the initiatives we researched, and created short documentary style films. You can view the films here.

The Sea In Me

Xsentrikarts founders Yilmaz Vurucu & Bahanur Nasya were invited by the Sinop Biennale (Sinopale) via Dutch organization Satelliet Groep to conduct artistic based research in Sinop on coastal transformation, development and traces of heritage.

Research results were published in the form of a feature documentary titled The Sea In Me. Their work explored the impact of unplanned urbanization, economic struggles faced by dwindling local industries, ecological imbalance caused by unsustainable fishing practices, and gentrification on local coastal cultures and settlements. Results contributed to the International Contemporary Seacollection On Coastal Transitions in Den Hague.