With a group of ten students and six teachers, we set off at the end of May 2018 for the final mobility of the European project Erasmus+ KA2 called Notes of Europe, joining delegations from eight other European countries to represent the artistic education of the Czech Republic. We traveled to the "heel" of Italy filled with curiosity and expectations, ready to learn something new and show what we could offer. A five-day program organized by the main coordinators of this project focused on language and art awaited us.
On Monday, May 21, after a long journey, our kind hosts welcomed us in the town of Tuglie in the province of Lecce. A welcoming ceremony was prepared in the Municipal Theater, where the Italian coordinators officially started the mobility. A diverse musical and dance program performed by students from the local art school, along with a ceremonial speech by the director of the entire "NOE" project, Prof. Cosimo Preite, marked a dignified beginning to the entire event. This was followed by a tour of the IISS "Enrico Giannelli" high school, specifically the three different sites of this institution: the Secondary Art School in Parabita, Casarano, and Gallipoli. The school teaches all artistic fields, with a significant representation of dance and choreography creation. At the end of Monday's program, local families picked up all the foreign students, allowing them to finally meet their hosts. The delegation of teachers, including ours, was accommodated in the town of Gallipoli on the western coast of the Salento peninsula.
The main event on Tuesday's agenda was the premiere of the student musical at the Italia Theater, titled "L’albero della vita" in the town of Gallipoli. In addition to a versatile cultural experience, it inspired us with how well Italian artists can pay tribute to the audience and themselves at the end. The creators' speeches, thanking nearly everyone who helped with the production, nearly matched the duration of the entire musical. One thing was certain: everyone left with a valuable experience.
On Wednesday, performances by students and teachers from all delegations took place. The program featured a variety of performances, including ethnic songs and dances as well as classical music pieces. Our "flagship" became the visual arts. Students from the art department of the Vysoké Mýto School of Arts, who made up the majority of our group, showcased unconventional clothing they had created from newspaper during the previous days in a fashion show format. A fantastic complement to the imaginative dresses was a hat decorated with a colorful collage representing the flag of each participating country. Solo musical performances by our students were also featured, including a piano piece and a recorder performance. The Czech Republic was represented by a trio of teachers performing piano, accordion, and cajon.
On Thursday morning, the coordinators and representatives of all delegations met to evaluate the project's progress over its three-year duration. As stated, this was the final mobility of the entire program, which began operating in November 2015. It is noteworthy that the emotions of nine different nationalities and cultures led to agreement and mutual recognition, undoubtedly aided by the common denominator of the project – the love of art. In the evening, a festive atmosphere returned. On the stage of the Gallipoli Italia Theater stood the symphonic orchestra named "NOE Orchestra," composed of young artists from all participating countries. The theater resonated with operatic arias and famous film melodies by prominent Italian composers. The grand evening naturally warranted a multi-course dinner and celebration, which was also attended by local divers and clam gatherers.
The final ceremony on Friday once again gathered all delegates in the Municipal Theater in the town of Tuglie, just as it had at the very beginning. Not only tears flowed from the Italians, as we had to say goodbye to our friends from distant corners of Europe for an indefinite time. Each delegation faced a journey back to their homeland.
From the moment we arrived, we were accompanied by the famous "Italian timing" – no one was in a hurry. Deviations from the schedule, usually backward, did not bother the locals. As Czechs with a strong sense of order, we were initially puzzled by the leisurely approach, but we quickly found harmony and enjoyment in the local carefreeness. The sunny weather and the scent of the sea always lifted our spirits. Amid the rich program, which had to meet the pre-defined criteria of the project, we managed to visit other beautiful towns in southern Italy, such as Lecce, Otranto, and the Italian "end of the world," Santa Maria di Leuca at the very tip of the "heel of the Italian boot." From there, no journey leads further except by sea. During our free moments, we also found time for swimming and in the evenings, we enjoyed tasting local dishes and seafood.
Task accomplished! On Saturday, May 26, we landed at Václav Havel Airport in Prague, all together. The return journey carried visible joy on everyone's faces as it led to the destination of all destinations – home. Great praise goes to our students-Viktorie Pokorná, Barbora Novotná, Agáta Papoušková, Andrea Dostálová, Alžběta Hronová, Kateřina Bečičková, Daniela Čápová, Lea Baniariová, Kateřina Hájková, and Kryštof Střasák, primarily for their artistic contributions, as well as their courage, responsibility, and professionalism. Thanks also go to the teachers Iva Vrátilová, Jolana Kouřímová, Šárka Rozlivková, Monika Jakoubková, and Jakub Jedlinský. Once again, we proved that basic artistic education in the Czech Republic has, without exaggeration, great quality in the European context reflections.
