Diversity in the natural world
In this activity the participants are invited to look at the natural world from a different perspective and discover the connection between plants diversity and migration and that of humans. After collecting the natural materials and discussing about diversity, they will be invited to create botanical prints/paintings with the plants they collected by pressing them on a paper, overlapping them, adding text or extra colours in the process. The process encourages self-expression, intercultural understanding and celebrating diversity.
THEME
Inclusion, self-expression, diversity
COMPLEXITY
Beginner/Intermediate
GROUP SIZE
5-15
participants
AGE
15+
TIME
90-120
min
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Introduce the theme(10-15 min):
- What can nature teach us about diversity and migration/being different?
- Explain the steps of the workshop, first we would go together for a walk in the park/nature and collect natural elements/materials and then come back and do botanical paintings together
- Emphasize respect for nature—only collect fallen or abundant items.
- Nature walk and discussion (30+ min depending how far is the place you take the participants to)
- Ask the participants to pair up and tell them that they would change their pair for each reflection question, trying to speak with people they didn’t spoken to before
- While they will be walking and talking through the park/forest, they would also look for leaves, flowers that they would later use for their painting
- Give each pair a small bag or basket to collect natural items.
Provide reflection questions to discuss during the walk:
- Look at the plants around you and observe the differences and similarities. What do you observe?
- How do plants grow together even when they are different?
- How can you make someone feel welcome in a new place?
- Have you ever moved from one place to another? What helped you feel welcome?/ If you never moved, what would you do to make someone feel welcome in your hometown/home place?
- Lead the participants back to the workshop room and while everyone is there, ask the participants:
- To share something about the things they collected and why.
- What did you notice about the diversity of plants?
- Can you make a parallel between people and plants you’ve observed today?
Getting into botanical printing/painting (20-30 min)
- First demonstrate how to do it, would be good to have an example with you as well, looks something like this:
- On a separate piece of paper, you would use the rolling pin with paint over the leaf/flower and then arrange it and press it on your main paper. You can use another clean paper to press the plant
- Invite the participants to try and arrange their plants with the idea of migration, diversity and belonging in mind
- They can also add words or sentences with the markers around the printed plants
- Invite participants to share their artwork and what it represents. (20 min)
Ask:
- What does your print say about you or your journey?
- How do you see diversity in your artwork?
- What did you learn from nature today?
Debriefing and Evaluation:
- What did you notice about the plants you collected? In which attributes were they different or similar?
- Did anything you saw during the walk remind you of people or communities?
- How do you think nature shows us the value of diversity?
- Some plants travel far to grow in new places. How is that similar to people’s experiences?
- What helps a plant grow in a new environment? What helps a person feel at home?
- Have you ever felt like you were “planted” in a new place? What helped you adapt?
- What story does your botanical print tell?
- Did you choose certain plants for a reason? What do they represent to you?
- How did it feel to create something using natural materials?
Tips for Facilitators:
- Offer support with pressing or handling materials.
- Use visual aids and simple language.
- Encourage ethical collection: only gather fallen or abundant materials.
- Be mindful of cultural or spiritual connections participants may have with nature or specific plants.
- Avoid using plants that may cause allergic reactions or skin irritation.
Variations and adjustments:
- Ensure the walk route is accessible to all participants. Offer alternatives (e.g., collecting materials beforehand) for those with mobility challenges.
- Provide alternatives for participants with limited mobility (e.g., pre-collected items).
- The topic could be changed to diversity of people/skills/abilities, whatever it fits better to your group.
Disclaimer:
- Discussions about migration may evoke personal or painful memories. Allow participants to share only what they feel comfortable with.
- Avoid asking direct personal questions—use metaphors (like plant migration) to create emotional distance and safety.
Visual arts activities
MODULE 1 NEEDS ANALYSIS
Needs analysis activities
MODULE 2 MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
Contact
Iuliana Adriana PAVEL (project manager)
iuliana.pavel@a4action.ro
A4ACTION – Antim Ivireanu Culture House, Islaz Alley, Ghermănești, Snagov, Ilfov District, Romania, 077170
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ANPCDEFP. Neither the European Union nor the ANPCDEFP can be held responsible for them.
The project is conducted by the following organisations: A4ACTION (Romania) – coordinator, Udruga Delta (Croatia), InterAktion (Austria), Asociación Espacio Rojo (Spain) and GAIA Museum Outsider Art (Denmark).