Particip8
Particip8 is the creative arts branch of Papilion Arts, designed to bring theatre, dance, music, and creative workshops into smaller towns and rural areas across Sweden. We focus on communities outside the major cities, where opportunities for young people are often limited due to industrial decline and youth migration.
Our mission is simple: to empower young people through creativity, dialogue, and cultural participation.
How It Works
We work directly with schools during school hours, making cultural education part of everyday life. Our programme combines:
Theatre and Forum Theatre – interactive drama to explore real issues and practice solutions.
Dance & Movement – building expression, confidence, and teamwork.
Music & Visual Arts – from production to graffiti, using creativity to spark dialogue.
Workshops – aligned with the school curriculum, encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration.
Particip8 also engages teachers, parents, and local cultural institutions, ensuring the impact goes beyond classrooms and reaches the wider community.
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Forum Theatre at the Core
At the heart of Particip8 is Forum Theatre, inspired by Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed and Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
In Forum Theatre, a short play presents a social conflict. Then the audience, young people, teachers, community members, etc., are invited to intervene, step into roles, and try out solutions. This transforms passive spectators into active “spect-actors”, rehearsing change in a safe and creative way.
We use this method to explore challenges such as bullying, identity, family pressure, discrimination, or social isolation – always connecting performance with real-life solutions.
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Who We Impact
Young People (13–18 years) – our main focus, giving students creative outlets, confidence, and life skills.
Schools & Teachers – we integrate with school curricula, supporting educators in delivering cultural learning.
Communities – we create stronger ties between young people, families, and local organisations.
Local Authorities & Institutions – providing an inclusive model of youth engagement that aligns with Swedish law (Barnkonventionen) and the EU Youth Strategy.
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Why Particip8 Matters
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Rural and industrially affected areas face unique challenges:
• Young people leaving for bigger cities.
• Fewer cultural and social opportunities.
• Higher risks of isolation, disengagement, and social problems.
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Particip8 addresses this by bringing culture to where it is most needed, giving young people the chance to thrive where they live, while helping communities stay vibrant and resilient.
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Impact
Societal – tackling social exclusion and disengagement by creating cultural participation in underserved areas.
Youth Development – building communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills.
Community Cohesion – fostering dialogue between generations, groups, and institutions.
Environmental Awareness – integrating eco-friendly practices into workshops, using art to highlight local environmental challenges.
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