THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

The Emmaus Sainte Sabine community is also a transition house. This means that companions are able to take part in arts activity workshops three times a week in parallel with their daily bric-a-brac activities. Founded by a nurse, the goals were to help companions that came here with their rehabilitation into the community by offering them artistic workshops as a tool for their personal and creative development, which is necessary for a person’s complete rehabilitation.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

The visual arts workshop on Monday encourages various forms of creativity: painting, sculpture, drawing, objects, furniture, writing. Participation in exhibitions and solidarity sales.

Theatre workshop on Tuesday: creating shows, creating entertainment for companions’ General Assemblies, responding to external requests.

Recovery-deco workshop on Thursday: creating everyday and decorative objects out of materials recovered from the bric-a-brac.

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

Volunteer companions, two team leaders, teams of paid employees in Sainte Sabine, Sasoge and Norges la Ville.

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

IFSI (Institute of Nursing Training), SOS Voyageurs, the community from the Beaune Commune in Grand Dijon, the Arnay le Duc multimedia library, the Sainte Sabine school.

Forming a group of willing companions, looking for a working space that was suitable for the activities, receiving an offer of an old shop by the ex manager, renovation of the space by the group.

Getting everyone to understand that the workshops would be considered as work. Companions are relieved from other duties three days a week, from 9:30 am to 4 :30 pm, to take part in the workshops.
The two group leaders receive a part-time salary for leading the workshops.

All of our demonstrations have been covered in the local press (newspapers and television reports). From event to event, we create links that result in new projects and new orders. Close links have been created with Grand Dijon, the Ville de Beaune Commune, the media library in Arnay le Duc and Secours Catholique in Pouilly en Auxois, as well as IFSI in Dijon.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Creation of a short piece of theatre for the companions’ general assembly.
Gathering companion accounts from before they arrived in their communities with the aim of writing a piece of fiction out of parts of their lives.
Continuing with personal visual arts projects.
Preparing an open day with the Emmaus Norges la Ville community.

SHARE YOUR PROGRESS AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS INITIATIVE

Each project undertaken has ended with a presentation, a play, a collective exhibition of work produced at the Museum of Life in Bourguignon as part of the Itinéraires Singuliers festival, exchanges and artistic events with IFSI in Dijon, external orders, participation in various environmental demonstrations.

All completed initiatives have helped to develop companions’ self confidence and improve their image, as well as helping to create outside links and get involved with socio-cultural projects.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

We think our workshops fit in with all three struggles. Through personal and creative development, companions are involved in a participative, citizenship-based process. They are part of the ethical and solidarity economy through creating and displaying objects made from recovered materials. We are raising awareness regarding reemployment among the general public. Finally, taking part in these projects gives them back a feeling of social justice (access to socio-cultural outings, reintegration in the community).

All of our demonstrations have been covered in the local press (newspapers and television reports). From event to event, we create links that result in new projects and new orders. Close links have been created with Grand Dijon, the Ville de Beaune Commune, the media library in Arnay le Duc and Secours Catholique in Pouilly en Auxois, as well as IFSI in Dijon.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

Maintain a creative dynamic through welcoming new participants and ensuring a good mix in the group.
Finding new partners to read companions’ stories and for possible publication.