Purpose: Fostering intercultural exchange and sharing traditions
Process:
Ms. Natalia Berenga, an artist of Belorussian origin from Melitopol, has been making rag dolls for quite some time but the idea of making folk dolls that would represent different cultures came to her after one of the ICC Forums held in Melitopol in 2018 with the participation of culturally diverse representatives of city-members of ІСС-Ukraine and international experts, who shared relevant experiences and practices. Natalia decided not only to start making these dolls herself, but suggested organising master classes for all interested culturally diverse population groups, including schoolchildren, adults and the elderly - in order to foster intercultural exchange, share traditions, look for commonalities and appreciate differences, encourage people's participation and promote the democratisation of culture.
This idea was later developed into a new ethnographic project called "A Folk Doll's Tale". The objective of the project is not only to involve the diverse residents of the city in the revival of different cultures, traditions and folk art, to introduce them to different ceremonies and customs, but also to allow them to attend a master class and to make a rag doll with their own hands, often for the first time in their lives, and to create the opportunity for them to learn about the history of different cultures through folk dolls’ tales told at the time of their making. As a result, the local library "Malvina" became a second home for many of the residents of the city, as it was the place where they held weekly meetings, including masterclasses on making rag dolls according to the "folk calendar", where the main cultural holidays were recorded. According to Natalia, the focus on diversity gives her an unlimited source of creativity, as all cultures are so rich in traditional clothing and costumes, and women's garments are particularly rich in ornaments, colours, cuts and decorations that often reflect and help to better understand the social norms of different cultures. Furthermore, by designing these dolls in workshops, participants learn more not only about different cultures, but often about their own.
During the Covid-2019 pandemic, Natalia regularly conducted her workshops online. From November 2020, when sanitary conditions allowed, the artist organised local art exhibitions open to all in Melitopol, especially aimed at the most vulnerable groups, including people with various disabilities, the elderly and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Having heard the tale of the folk doll, in the autumn of 2021, the administration of Zaporizhia region, where Melitopol is located - offered to host Ms Berenga's handmade doll exhibition and master classes for two days (with the possibility to participate online for those who could not attend) in the Central Library of Zaporizhia. The event attracted a large number of on-line and off-line participants.
