Creative Collaborazione: Bridging Cultures Through Artistic Expression
Written by Office of Alumni Affairs Intern Sandhya Lohano
In the heart of both Boston and Rome, 80 students have come together for “Creative Collaborazione,” a journey of artistic expression. Guided Fulbright U.S. Student Program ExchangeAlumni, Alexa Beil and Stefanie Anarumo, this initiative has not only fostered artistic expression, but also formed global connections and cross-cultural understanding.
“Creative Collaborazione” provides a unique opportunity for students from both Ellis Mendell Elementary School in Boston, Massachusetts and the State Institute of Specialized Education for the Deaf in Rome, Italy to collaboratively write, design, perform, and produce live theater. This project, for students 9-12 years old, was funded by the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF), a $10,000 small grant offered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State to U.S. Alumni of Government-sponsored exchange programs, and showcases the potential of the arts to break down barriers and build bridges between diverse communities.
Alexa and Stefanie both share a deep passion for arts education and accessibility, forming the backbone of their project – Alexa is an art teacher at Ellis Mendellin Boston and Stefanie is a theater practitioner–someone who works in theater in a variety of roles–who has been an Associate General Manager as well as an Assistant Director at Bay Street Theater in New York.
“I really do think and believe that the arts have the power to change lives and really believe that creativity and artistic expression brings people together regardless of differences, linguistic or otherwise,” Stefanie stated.
Their collaboration is rooted in their close friendship, originating from their time in graduate school together, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and shared dedication to fostering creativity.
Inspired by their respective Fulbright experiences,Alexa in Potsdam, Germany from 2016-2017 for the English Teaching Exchange Program and Stefanie in Rome, Italy in 2015 for a Fulbright research grant, they both envisioned a project that would merge theater and visual arts, creating an innovative platform for students to connect across continents. The “Creative Collaborazione” classes were very structured over the course of three weeks, with Alexa and Stefanie coordinating curriculum and goals during two weeks of preparation before the course. Following this, Stefanie traveled to Italy for on-site preparations, including setting up classrooms and introducing the project to other teachers and administrators.
Each week of the three-week program brought a distinctive focus to the classes. In the first week, students participated in intense brainstorming sessions, immersing themselves in the exploration of storytelling elements, character development, and plot structure. This initial phase provided a platform for students to share their ideas, which laid the foundation for a collaborative narrative. Moving into the second week, the students’ creative endeavors took place as they dedicated their time to designing backdrops and crafting props. This hands-on experience allowed the students to bring their wildest ideas to life. In the concluding week of the program, the focus shifted to fine-tuning all the aspects of the production, mirroring a traditional “tech week.” This phase encapsulated the culmination of their collaborative efforts, bringing storytelling, visual arts, and cultural exchange together into a cohesive final performance. In reflecting on the project, Alexa and Stefanie expressed immense pride in their students’ achievements.
“The success of Creative Collaborazione is a direct attribute to the incredible young artists who shared their immense talents on a local and global scale,” they said in their report after the project ended. “The arts have the incredible power to transcend differences, and replace them with friendships.”
The project emphasized the power of creativity and artistic expression in fostering connections, overcoming differences, and building a sense of community. The joy, care, and attention to detail displayed by the young artists was a testament to the power of letting children lead the creative process, and served as a reminder of the universal nature of human connection. Alexa and Stefanie’s dedication to building bridges across cultures through art, and their ability to create a supportive global community showcases the potential to create change through targeted projects like the CDAF.