As part of the Erasmus+ programme, Viktoria Taucher took part in an international intensive programme on the topic “Heritage and Creativity for Inclusion”.

From 16 to 20 March 2026, the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain) hosted the in-person component of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) ‘Heritage and Creativity for Inclusion’, organised by the European consortium STARS EU. The aim of this programme is to examine the role of cultural heritage and creativity as key factors for social inclusion. Around thirty international lecturers, researchers and experts, including Mag.a Viktoria Taucher MA PhD, Head of the Art and Design Programme at the University of Education Styria, took part and exchanged their experiences and perspectives.

During the opening event, the coordinator, José Sigut, PhD, emphasised the growing importance of such programmes within the European higher education area. Particular emphasis was placed on the hybrid format, which combines online phases with short face-to-face meetings, thereby enabling both flexible collaboration and personal exchange. Sigut also emphasised that programmes of this kind should increasingly incorporate fields such as art and the creative industries, as these have so far been under-represented compared to disciplines such as engineering or economics. A distinctive feature of this BIP is its focus on teachers, whereas comparable programmes usually centre on students.

Noemí Peña, PhD, organiser and Vice-Dean of the Faculty, also welcomed the participants. She explained that the online phase had already begun in February and was bringing together experts from several countries, including Tunisia, Austria, France, the Czech Republic and Portugal. The in-person week ran until 20 March and comprises a mix of working sessions, creative workshops and cultural activities designed to facilitate the exchange of methods and approaches for promoting inclusion through art and cultural heritage.

The programme includes workshops and sessions on art and the creative industries, aimed at both teaching staff and Master’s students. Special activities include the “Whistled Dialogues” workshop, which explores whistling as intangible cultural heritage, and “Cibulák”, an artistic workshop in the faculty garden. The programme is complemented by cultural visits to significant sites on Tenerife and joint creative working sessions.

The programme concludes with a joint exhibition at the “La Capilla” cultural centre, showcasing the artistic works created during the programme, including Viktoria Taucher’s piece “Maria”, which explores the Austrian tradition of cross-stitch. This exhibition offers the opportunity to make the results and reflections of this international exchange accessible to a wider public.

Text: Mag.a Viktoria Taucher MA PhD