Accessibility & InclusionWorkshop as Part of the “The Book of Dreaming” Project – Summary (April 18–19, 2026)
On April 18–19, 2026, a two-day workshop dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and working with children through artistic methods took place in Wrocław. The participants worked with children including those with migration experience, neurodiversity, and various disabilities. The meeting was part of the project “The Book of Dreaming – artistic methods for integration and empowerment of children with refugee experience” (Creative Europe).
The workshop took the form of an intensive exchange of practices and collaborative work on a methodological tool being developed within the project – an artistic “toolbox” that combines theoretical reflection with practical experience. A key assumption of this approach is that art is not merely a form of expression, but a process of organizing experience, building relationships, and supporting participation.
Art as a space for regulation, relationships, and participation
During the workshop, particular attention was given to working with neurodivergent children – including those on the autism spectrum and with ADHD. Participants explored how artistic activities can support:
- regulation of the nervous system through sensory experiences (touch, rhythm, movement),
- nonverbal communication (gesture, image, sound),
- building a sense of relational safety,
- development of agency and autonomy.
Rather than treating art as a tool for “fixing” or therapy, the workshop emphasized its role as a relational and developmental medium that enables children to participate on their own terms – without pressure to conform to norms.
From practice to reflection – a shared working language
An important part of the meeting was the introduction and testing of the W4 reflective framework (What? So what? Now what?), which allows for analyzing artistic activities without oversimplifying their complexity. Participants:
- described the course of activities (What?),
- interpreted their meaning in the context of development and relationships (So what?),
- drew conclusions for future work (Now what?).
At the same time, participants worked with a documentation template developed within the project, which enables translating workshop experience into knowledge that can be reused – without the need to rely on academic language.
Flexibility instead of universal methods
One of the key conclusions of the workshop was a move away from thinking in terms of “universal methods.” Instead, participants focused on:
- recognizing children’s states of engagement (from withdrawal to agency),
- adapting activities to context (space, group, sensory needs),
- working with diversity as a value rather than a problem.
It was emphasized that effective artistic practice does not rely on replicating ready-made solutions, but on attentiveness, flexibility, and the ability to adapt.
Towards a “living” tool
The two-day meeting in Wrocław was an important step in building a shared language for developing an approach that treats art as a space of coexistence, experimentation, and mindful being together.
The workshop confirmed that working through art can genuinely support processes of integration and inclusion – provided it remains open, relational, and grounded in participants’ lived experiences.
Workshop facilitator: Kamila Kamińska, PhD
Participants:
Dmytro Nikitin (Ukraine)
Alicja Brunejko (Poland)
Monika Cyżniewska (Poland)
Sofiia Brem (Ukraine)
Yuliia Reznik (Ukraine)
Yuliia Budylenko (Ukraine)
Kateryna Kardel (Ukraine)
Agata Fogler (Poland)
Tola Mayer (Poland)
Piotr Michnik (Poland)
Adrian Lorkowski (Poland)
Emilia Kamińska (Poland)
