Blind children will become graffitists. At the Divadelná Nitra

We got used to seeing them on walls of houses, railroad cars or bridges and billboards. Some people call them art, others condemn them. If they are not authorised, it's crime.

One of the reasons why young people like graffiti is because they represent freedom. And during this year’s Divadelná Nitra International Theatre Festival, which takes place from 21 to 26 September, visually impaired and sighted childrenwill become street artists.

A Graffiti Workshop will take place as a part of the A Tulip for You event, which is an exceptionally successful project of the Association Divadelná Nitra. For as long as six years, thanks to artistic activities, the project has been integrating handicapped children and has become entrenched as a year-round program. As usual, it will culminate during the festival.

"The concept of this year’s Tulip is based on the principle of freedom and courage to know the unknown, which is so very needed for handicapped children who live their lives constantly lacking experiences," the project leader, academic sculptor Elena Kárová explained. 

A more than 50-member team from the Prince Pribina Primary School in Nitra and the Secondary School for Visually Impaired in Bratislava will create a large-scale graffiti at the festival square under the guidance of experienced graffiti artists. Spectators will also be welcome and allowed to shake some cans.

The Tulip event will reach its high point at the opening of two exhibitions of the works of visually impaired children. For the very first time, the public will be able to see more than 110 paintings – a selection from five years of year-round creative workshops. "For the handicapped children this will be a way to send out a signal of Ꞌhere we are (sme tu)Ꞌ," E. Kárová emphasised.

The organisers named the exhibitions by the paper format of the works: the SME TUlipán A2 exhibition will take place in front of the Studio of the Andrej Bagar Theatre in Nitra and the SME TUlipán A4 exhibition will decorate the local Gio Caffé in the Festival street. Children’s works will be for sale and the public will thus have a chance to support the project A Tulip for You.

The spirit of freedom and liberty will also dominate the "tulip" drumming workshop by African musician Thierry Ebam, with whom the visually impaired children have already played several times in the A Tulip for You Club in Bratislava. "Drumming is an exciting experience for all the children, however it is especially important for those who are completely blind," E. Kárová explained. The day will conclude with a concert of African percussionists Djeme Kuti at the festival square.

More about project A TULIP FOR YOU read HERE.