This year, the Zero Point Festival is becoming a key event in the stART. research project, which responds to a fundamental challenge facing the contemporary cultural scene: how to effectively engage young audiences and foster their interest in contemporary performing arts. All four partner organizations—SAMPO (Helsinki, Finland), Teen Theatre Fest – Jan Palárik Theater (Trnava, Slovakia), and the City Theater in Celje (Celje, Slovenia)—deal with this question on a daily basis. This international partnership will enable us to share experiences and jointly develop new formats for young audiences, test various creative approaches, and advance existing formats.

Main goals of the project

piloting and adapting artistic formats that respond to young people’s realities,
strengthening youth mental wellbeing and inclusion through cultural participation,
sharing methods and models across borders via a dedicated digital platform,
building an international network of cultural, educational and wellbeing actors.

Project activities include interdisciplinary festivals in schools, creative residencies, audiowalks, peer mentoring, and co-curated events — all supported by research, ongoing evaluation and professional reflection. The stART. project aims to engage with at least 800 young people.

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 [name of the granting authority]. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.