Set in the scenic hills of Abruzzo, the fourth edition of Bitta Generation transformed the town of Tornareccio into a laboratory of inclusion, creativity and artistic expression. Through two Erasmus+ Youth international meetings, a training course and a youth exchange, young artists, educators and youth workers from across Europe explored how art can become a tool for social change and active citizenship. Those two meeting were the start up of the new long term Erasmus+ Youth accredited project that ARCI Chieti run on the topic of “Artistic Expression to facilitate youth inclusion processes”
The project followed the educational path grounded in the ORA methodology (Observe, Rethink, Act), combining non-formal education with artistic languages such as murals, video, comics and visual storytelling. Participants engaged in hands-on workshops and reflection sessions, developing new skills and methodologies while reimagining their role as active contributors to community life.
The town itself played a central role. Known for its honey production, open-air mosaic museum and strong civic spirit, Tornareccio provided fertile ground for intercultural exchange. Local institutions, producers and associations co-hosted public events titled “ri-Tornareccio”, where participants shared their creative outcomes with the community.
Supported by the Erasmus+ Programme, the Abruzzo Institute for Protected Areas and the Municipality of Tornareccio, the initiative demonstrated how artistic expression can build bridges between generations, cultures and local identities, empowering young people to imagine and enact more inclusive futures.
