INK of Freedom
Ink of Freedom is a funded project through the Erasmus+ program, and has 3 organisations involved: DCTR (Portugal), Esplai (Spain) and YC Epirus (Greece). The project aims to empower and stimulate young people to find innovative ways of participating in EU democratic life, by strengthening young people’s sense of belonging and understanding of EU values.
This project also aims to increase the perception of the fragility of the democracy in which we live, evident in the resurgence of nationalist and extremist rhetoric, intolerance and xenophobia, that has systematically gained, over the last few years and in electoral processes within the European space, a growing number of supporters. As attentive citizens involved in the search for answers to Europe's current and future challenges, we want to develop actions that stimulate the ability to reinforce people's participation in the decision-making processes of their countries.
The similarities we found between dictatorial regimes in Portugal, Spain and Greece, both in the characteristics of the regimes and in the moment in history in which they occurred, led to this Consortium and the project. These similarities, and how the processes of democratic liberation triumphed, are a common basis that led us to understand that this approach will be an interesting way of motivating young people to want to know better how things happened and what difficulties and restrictions existed before, comparing past and present to build the future they want to see.
Having this in mind, Ink of Freedom has 3 main blocks of activities:
#1 Research
#2 Creative Process, that will use the data obtained in the block #1
#3 European Route App, which will use the data and results obtained both in blocks #1 and #2
During the research phase, each partner organisation will analyse data obtained from intergenerational focus groups, from interviews of people who have lived, or who's immediate relatives have lived through the dictatorship period, and from letters exchanged between individuals during the dictatorship period.
The results of the research will be used by artists and young people, in order to create artistic performances inspired by the findings. Local performances will be shown in the regions of where the young people and organisations are located in, as well, the groups of young people will travel to each other to perform in each other's cities.
Finally, the visual materials, such as the letters, and videos from the performances, along information obtained during the research phase, will be used to create the European Route App, where users will be able to access the contents and use VR functions to visit both historic and performance locations and see relevant content at the locations.
Below, you can read news and updates of the project!
News of the INK of Freedom project
First transnational meeting in Madrid, Spain
In Castelló, Spain, representatives of the three partner organisations met for the first time face-to-face, from June 25 to 26, 2024. Partners had already met online to define the project management principles, so we used this Transnational Meeting in Spain to mostly focus on the upcoming Work Packages and activities, that will be focused on research in each country about the resistance to dictatorship. In this meeting we also had the opportunity to visit an anti-aircraft shelter in Castelló, used during th Civil War in Spain, which helped us to better understand the reality in the country at that time.
Research Results
For the first several months of the project, researchers of the partner organisations worked on an extensive research about the dictatorship periods in their countries (Greece, Portugal, and Spain). The research included a short desk-research about the historic period, and extensive qualitative research phases: focus groups, interviews, and analysis of historic letters.
People of 3 generations participated in the focus groups, providing that stories of the time were shared, both from first-hand experiences and heard from the closest relatives. In the interviews, older generations participated - mostly people who experienced the dictatorship periods. And many historic letters sent during the oppression times were analysed, gathered from personal, private, and public archives.
The research results are going to be used by artistic youth teams of each organisation, while working on the creative process stage of this project. The team of Greece will be preparing a performance inspired/based on the Portuguese report, the Portuguese youth team will be working on the Spanish report, and the Spanish team will be creating a performance inspired by the Greek research report. The performances will be prepared during the autumn of 2025, and will be shown as follows: December 2025 in Portugal, February 2026 in Greece, April 2026 in Spain, and also several times during January-May 2025 they will be shown locally in each country. The performances will not be announced - they will be pop-up street performances!
Here, we publish the research results, which can be downloaded and used with a reference. Anyone who would like to comment or share anything that might be worth noting in regard to the research is very welcome to contact us.
THE GREEK RESEARCH RESULTS:
THE PORTUGUESE RESEARCH RESULTS:
Transnational Meeting in Aveiro, Portugal
Representatives of the INK of Freedom project met in Aveiro, Portugal, 14th-25th of April 2025 to discuss and plan the project activity flow. Reflection on the research results promoted brainstorming and preparation for the creative part of the project, which is the next step. The artistic work leaders discussed the concept of the creative work deeper, made initial decisions on the training and ways of work.
Moreover, it was significant that the transnational partners meeting took place during the 25th of April, which is the Freedom Day of Portugal, otherwise known as the Carnation Revolution that ended the dictatorship in Portugal in 1974. We took a special note of that and joined the celebration with gifted carnations!
From research to creation : The preparation during local sessions in Ioannina
Getting started
Starting in September 2025, a group of young participants in Ioannina, Greece, came together to begin this crucial phase : bringing research to creation.
The participants worked with research materials elaborated in Portugal about its dictatorship time. The challenge was not only to understand this material, but to transform it into something emotionally engaging and relevant: performances that will be presented during the upcoming mobility in Aveiro, Portugal in December 2025.
The first meetings focused on getting familiar with the research papers. These sessions became spaces of contextualisation and critical thinking, where young people connected historical narratives with present-day realities. Brainstorming played a central role. Ideas flowed freely as participants explored how to translate complex themes like oppression, resistance or freedom into artistic language. Through discussions and artistic reviews, the group began shaping the foundations of their performances. Guided during the process by Konstantinos Balamatsias, our experienced artistic leader, the team gained direction and confidence to move forward.
Beyond the creative process, the local sessions were also about people. Time was intentionally dedicated to team-building activities, allowing participants to connect, build trust, and develop a shared vision.
From ideas to rehearsal
As the weeks progressed, the focus gradually shifted from concepts to practical preparation. With the upcoming international mobility in Portugal scheduled for December, the urgency to bring ideas to life increased. By November 2025, rehearsals were in full swing. The group worked collectively to test their performances, experimenting with different forms of expression and integrating the values and ideas shared. This stage demanded commitment, adaptability, and collaboration, as each participant contributed their perspective to the final outcome.
These local sessions were not an isolated effort, they were the foundation for something bigger. The performances developed in Ioannina would soon travel beyond Greece. The next milestone awaited in Portugal, where participants from all partner countries would come together to present their work and continue the creative journey across borders.
What comes next?
The story doesn’t end here. After weeks of preparation, reflection, and rehearsals, the group was ready to take their work to an international stage. The two first performances abroad would take place in Aveiro, Portugal: a moment where local efforts meet European collaboration.
Stay tuned to discover what happened next in Portugal, during the first international performance of Ink of Freedom.
From local creation to international stage: The first performances in Portugal
Meeting, sharing, creating
In December 2025, the journey of Ink of Freedom took an important step forward. After weeks of preparation in their local groups, participants from Greece, Portugal and Spain came together in Aveiro, Portugal, for the first international mobility of the project.
For many, this was more than just a trip; it was the moment where ideas, research and rehearsals finally met a real audience. Over several days in Aveiro, the three groups had the opportunity to connect, exchange and grow together. What had started months before as separate local processes now became a shared European experience.
Participants spent time getting to know each other, building connections beyond borders, and exploring common themes that resonate across countries and generations: activism, social inclusion, and the power of creative and performing arts to communicate meaningful messages.
Rehearsals continued on site, allowing the groups to refine their performances, adapt to new spaces, and support one another in the final steps before going on stage.
Bringing stories to life
A key moment of this mobility was the presentation of two performances in the city of Aveiro. This time, the performances were created and performed collectively by participants from all three countries, with the artistic direction led by the Greek team.
The performances were inspired by the Portuguese dictatorship, transforming historical research into a shared artistic expression. This collaborative approach (working across cultures while exploring one country’s history) added a powerful layer to the project, reinforcing empathy and a shared European memory.
During the performances, themes of oppression, resistance and freedom came alive through movement, voice and creativity.
The response from the audience in Portugal was deeply meaningful. The memory of the dictatorship remains vivid, and this was reflected in the way the performances were received. Through art, dialogue was created. Through performance, history became present. These days in Aveiro, strengthened not only the performances but also the bonds between the groups, reinforcing the collaborative spirit at the heart of Ink of Freedom.
What comes next?
This first international experience marked an important milestone, but it is only one step in a longer journey.
The project now continues at a local level, with upcoming performances planned in Arta, Greece. These next stages will bring the work back to local communities, continuing to spark reflection, dialogue and engagement.
Stay tuned to follow the next chapter of Ink of Freedom!
From Portugal back to Greece: Local performances in Arta and Ioannina
After returning from Portugal, the journey of Ink of Freedom continued in Greece. It was time to bring the message of the project and the performances first developed through months of preparation and presented in Aveiro back to local communities.
The Greek team presented street performances in Arta and Ioannina, continuing to explore the Portuguese dictatorship storyline through artistic expression.
Ideas, rehearsals and theatrical forms that had evolved throughout the project finally took shape in familiar streets and neighborhoods. By performing in public spaces, the team brought art and history closer to everyday life, creating moments of reflection and connection with local audiences.
These local performances were also an important step in the wider journey of the project. While strengthening the work locally, they also prepared the ground for the next international chapter: welcoming the Spanish and Portuguese teams to Ioannina for the continuation of the project.
From local streets to international collaboration, Ink of Freedom keeps building bridges through art, memory and shared stories.
Stay tuned for what comes next in Ioannina!
From hosting to creating together: International mobility in Ioannina
In March, Ink of Freedom welcomed participants from Portugal and Spain to Ioannina, Greece, for a week of collaboration, creativity and cultural exchange.
During this international mobility, the three teams came together once again to rehearse, create and strengthen the connections built throughout the project. Beyond the artistic work, participants also had the opportunity to discover the city of Ioannina, share daily experiences and create new memories together.
This time, the artistic process was led by the Spanish team, who developed the concept for the next performances inspired by the Greek dictatorship. Guided by their vision, all participants worked collectively to shape and perform two new performances, presented together during the mobility.
These days were not only about rehearsals and performances, but also about connection, exchange and shared learning. Through art, history and collaboration, participants continued building a common European experience rooted in memory, creativity and youth participation.
As one chapter closes, another begins.
The next stop of the journey will take all teams to Spain, where the project will continue with the next international mobility and a new creative process.
Continuing the journey in Spain: creativity, collaboration and performance
After gathering in Portugal and Greece, the journey of Ink of Freedom continued with the next international mobility in Spain, where participants from the three partner countries came together once again to create, rehearse and perform.
This time, the artistic process and performances were led by the Portuguese team, who brought the concept and direction for the new performances. Inspired by the themes explored throughout the project, participants collectively transformed research, memory and artistic experimentation into a shared stage experience.
Most of the performances took place within university spaces, creating an interesting meeting point between art, history and education. Through movement, expression and performance, the project once again brought discussions about dictatorship, collective memory and freedom into public and academic environments.
Beyond the performances themselves, the mobility in Spain was also about living, learning and creating together. Rehearsals, shared experiences and everyday moments continued to reinforce the collaborative spirit that defines Ink of Freedom.
As the project keeps evolving through each mobility and local activity, every new stage adds another layer to this collective journey built through art.
Bringing Ink of Freedom to the University of Ioannina Library
As the journey of Ink of Freedom continued to evolve through international exchanges and artistic collaborations, the project reached a new local milestone in Ioannina: a special performance hosted at the Library of the University of Ioannina.
This performance brought together different chapters of the project into one collective artistic experience. Inspired by the work developed throughout the mobilities and local activities, the performance combined elements from the Portuguese dictatorship storyline, creations developed during previous international exchanges, as well as new ideas and experimental moments shaped by the group along the way.
Presented in the unique setting of the university library, the performance transformed a familiar academic space into a place of reflection, expression and dialogue. The contrast between silence, memory and artistic movement created a meaningful atmosphere for both participants and audience members.
The event also gave participants the opportunity to visit the University of Ioannina and connect the project with a student and local community environment. By bringing the performance into a public educational space, Ink of Freedom continued its goal of making history, collective memory and democratic reflection more accessible through art.
This performance marked another important step in the creative journey of the project, showing how the performances continue to evolve, adapt and grow through each encounter and collaboration.
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