Since 2022, the Sommer Foundation has supported the artistic approach developed by photographer Cristina Nuñez, particularly in her work with young people. Through the project “The Self-Portrait Experience (SPEX)”, followed by the “EMoSEE” initiative, she seeks to provide secondary school teachers with methods and tools to engage students in exploring their relationship to images, to themselves, and to others. By promoting the self-portrait over the selfie—which often distorts identity through filters and by rejecting images that do not conform to certain beauty or happiness standards—she works with teenagers on the concept of self-acceptance. At an age when self-perception is especially challenging, she trains professionals in educational settings to guide high school students along a path of self-recognition and openness to others.

“Mat Iech” is the title of a project launched in 2022, which embodies Elisabeth Schilling & Company’s passion for outreach and awareness-building. Today, this project has become an essential programme within the company Making Dances asbl, aiming to create a more flexible format that focuses on mediation and interaction, while preserving the performative aspect. It enables the presentation of Elisabeth’s larger-scale works to a different audience — one that does not have access to performances held in theatres or cultural institutions where these works are usually staged. The goal is to make dance accessible to a wide audience in diverse ways.

The “EarGlasses” project is an educational initiative designed to introduce students to podcast creation as a tool for cultural expression, language development, and enhanced media literacy.

Over the course of ten weeks, participants will take part in practical workshops led by a team of media professionals coordinated by Jess Bauldry. The program includes sessions on storytelling, audio production, and editing. Students will be encouraged to explore their cultural identities, share their experiences, and produce their own audio content in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The project will culminate in a public presentation of the podcasts in front of peers, teachers, and families, celebrating the students’ achievements and fostering intercultural dialogue.

Led by the association Youth Work Synergy, the project “Locked Out – Youth Lens on Housing” uses documentary filmmaking as a medium to give young people a voice in the face of the housing crisis in Luxembourg. Through a series of practical workshops led by professional artists, ten young participants aged 17 to 25 will be trained in filmmaking techniques (scriptwriting, filming, sound, editing) while exploring the structural challenges related to access to housing.

The project offers them not only artistic and technical skills, but also a platform to express themselves and bring their voices to the wider public and decision-makers. The documentary, co-created by the participants, will be presented at a public screening followed by a discussion with stakeholders from the housing sector to encourage collective reflection on potential solutions.

In partnership with Life asbl, this initiative combines arts education, civic engagement, and awareness of social inequalities, contributing to the empowerment of young people through arts and culture.

Led by the non-profit organization Muse, “Studio Lokal” is an educational project designed to support young people in discovering careers in the creative and artistic fields. Through a series of hands-on workshops (photography, graphic design, filmmaking, calligraphy, interior design), guided by professionals in the sector, participants gain practical skills and benefit from personalized mentoring.

The project primarily targets young people aged 16 to 30 and also includes guidance sessions focused on academic and career orientation, with particular emphasis on helping participants prepare applications for artistic studies.

In collaboration with cultural institutions in Luxembourg, “Studio Lokal” aims to improve access to arts education, promote local talent, and foster cultural inclusion.

As part of the 10th edition of the Marionettefestival, the project “Vergiess de Gaardenzwerg” offered students from the Campus am Ale Bësch (commune of Esch-sur-Sûre) a unique artistic and educational experience in a rural setting. Guided by scenographer Lynn Scheidweiler, the children transformed everyday objects and recycled materials into imaginary creatures inspired by object theatre. This creative work took place in the form of playful and collaborative workshops, encouraging experimentation, hands-on exploration, and theatrical staging. The resulting artworks were exhibited in the village of Tadler during the festival, as part of an immersive and participatory trail.

In addition to the workshops, the pupils attended a festival performance, met artists, toured backstage areas, and helped collectively install the artworks. The project culminated on June 10, 2025, with a festive morning of school performances, bringing together pupils from formal and non-formal education institutions across the commune of Esch-sur-Sûre.

This project gave children meaningful exposure to creativity, ecology, and the appreciation of local heritage, while strengthening their teamwork, curiosity, and joy in creating together.

The project Ame, San and the Red Lion is an original theatre production for young audiences (ages 10 and up), created by the company Les FreReBri(des). Through the story of a blended family, the play explores the fears and emotions children experience when a new parental figure enters their lives, while also touching on the challenges faced by single mothers, particularly in the Luxembourgish context.

Alongside the performance, the project includes a strong educational component: interactive school workshops invite students to engage in the creative process, express their own family experiences, and discover the language of theatre. A special performance and round-table discussion will also be organised for single mothers.

The project “L C Danser – Warriors 360°” is an educational, cultural, and participatory initiative of the Lycée Classique de Diekirch, aimed at students from various educational backgrounds, with particular attention to students from technical education and Clija classes. By combining contemporary dance and hip-hop with martial arts and physical expression, this project promotes social inclusion, well-being, and personal development for the participants.

Building on the success of the “L C Danser – Au rythme des couleurs” project, supported by the Sommer Foundation in 2023-2024, “Warriors 360°” capitalizes on the positive impact of dance at the LCD revealed by this first experience. This new edition enriches the project by incorporating martial arts, offering students the opportunity to push their limits, explore new forms of expression, and boost their self-confidence. Through the involvement of external artists, the students participate in all stages of the creative process, becoming active participants in their own artistic expression.

Through the project “Sustainable art as a bridge for social integration in Luxembourg,” the non-profit organization ARK uses art as a means of inclusion and empowerment. By providing children and families in vulnerable situations, including refugees, with access to art workshops inspired by sustainable techniques, this project promotes their social and cultural integration.

During the 2024/2025 school year, thanks to multilingual teaching and creative activities, participants build self-confidence, learn French, and benefit from a safe and supportive space for self-expression. Currently, 23 young people are enrolled in the program. While “Express Yourself Through Art and a Sustainable Lifestyle” was the motto of the first semester, the second focuses on “Famous Artists from Around the World Using Sustainable Materials and Techniques.”

The exhibitions and events organized each semester strengthen community bonds and raise awareness of the importance of a sustainable lifestyle.

The project “Paths to Perception”, led by the associations Antropical asbl and Our Common Future asbl, is inspired by bibliotherapy. It offers young people seeking answers to specific questions cultural resources aimed at improving their well-being and developing their skills. The goal is to encourage young people’s engagement with various forms of art while providing them with a space for reflection, discussion, and creation.

Through workshops organized in cultural centers or schools, a theme, chosen in advance by a team of artists, is proposed for discussion. For this, a selection of diverse works – such as short films, short stories, poems, paintings, photographs, songs, as well as excerpts from longer works – is presented and discussed with the participants. The chosen works aim to provide rich, diverse, and thought-provoking perspectives. Questions and activities will be prepared to stimulate reflection, and the discussion will be moderated to foster genuine interaction.