Theatre and storytelling are powerful cultural and educational tools that bring people together, foster empathy, and give voice to diverse experiences. In the European setting, these artistic expressions are crucial in advancing and representing fundamental EU principles, including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. In this way, storytelling and theatre not only entertain but also educate, inspire, and reinforce the core values upon which the European Union is built—making them essential instruments for shaping an open, resilient, and interconnected society.
The project EU storytellers is a youth exchange that will bring young people together to gain insight into different cultures, beliefs, ideas and stories about the EU core values. The project aims to empower young people by increasing their knowledge and understanding of the European Union and engaging them with improvisational theatre techniques and storytelling. During the YE, the participants will engage in intercultural dialogue and a variety of non-formal activities focused on combining artistic creativity with civic engagement to contribute to a vibrant democratic culture. The project will use creative arts as a tool to raise awareness of the European Union’s importance and its role in young people’s lives, personal and professional development.
The specific objectives of the project are:
● To raise awareness of the core EU values through the creative ideas of young people
● To acquire skills in theatre as a tool to engage and empower young EU citizens
● To acquire new knowledge and storytelling techniques to tell inspiring stories
● To promote the European values through storytelling and the theatre
● To raise cooperation, leadership and creativity skills among the participants
● To raise awareness of the importance of youth voices in shaping new European strategies towards the better integration into society of young people
Venue: Varna, Bulgaria
Dates: 7-13 June 2026 (including travel dates)
Participating countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Poland.
The info-pack is available here.
Application for Bulgarian participants is open until 25 May. Apply by completing this form.
The project is funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program.
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 European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.