Artists and Teachers Develop Methods to Manage Stress

How can art help improve well-being and reduce stress in schools?
This was the theme when the Malopolska Institute of Culture (MIK) in Krakow invited 15 teachers to a workshop, with Kulturtanken’s Charlotte Blanche Myrvold participating as an expert peer.

The workshop was part of the European collaboration project Mind the Gap.
Over two days, participants explored creative exercises, discussed methods, and shared experiences.

Engaged Teachers from Diverse Backgrounds

The group included teachers of Polish language, life skills, and physical education. They showed strong commitment to their profession, deep insight into everyday school life and students’ needs, and—most importantly—a willingness to learn new methods and step outside their comfort zones.

The goal of the workshop was to examine how art-based methods and activities can help reduce stress and improve students’ well-being.

Teachers shared many experiences showing that performance pressure and stress are major challenges in Polish schools.

MIK had prepared thoroughly, identifying a problem that affects both teachers and students, and developed a set of exercises aimed at addressing this challenge. A shared understanding of the problem and a willingness to explore new methods strengthened the quality of this interdisciplinary exchange.

Open Dialogue Between Artists and Educators

The workshop emphasized open dialogue between art educators, artists, and teachers.

What I liked best was that there was plenty of room for discussion. The structure encouraged rich dialogue between the art educator/artist perspective and the teacher perspective, said Myrvold.

Several exercises challenged participants but also fostered confidence and reflection.

My impression is that the open and trusting exchange about the exercises—even those that felt difficult—helped create confidence around using art in teaching, while also providing strong personal experiences of well-being through art, Myrvold noted.

An Important Reminder

Collaboration and exchange of experience between the cultural and educational sectors are also crucial for developing The Cultural Schoolbag in Norway.

Workshops like this are an important reminder of how vital dialogue between teachers and artists is. The experiences from Poland also show that creating space for dialogue—and allowing time for testing and discussion—adds great value to efforts to strengthen the role and presence of art in schools.