Inspiration and new horizons for the Muzeiko team

How can art create new opportunities for working with diverse target groups? How can we engage both adults and children in educational play through art? And how can artistic techniques be adapted for groups with special educational needs? These were just some of the questions we explored together with our colleagues at MUBA – the Children’s Museum of Milan. The team from Muzeiko, Sofia Municipal Cultural Institute – Children’s Science and Education Centre, recently returned from Milan, where we took part in EMAGINE – The Power of Art in Interactive Learning (2024-BG01-KA122-ADU-000229647), an Erasmus+ Key Action 1 project for adult education focused on intensive educational mobility and professional development.

EMAGINE is the result of a partnership between Muzeiko and MUBA that began during the Hands On! International Conference of the Association of Children’s Museums in Bern, Switzerland. Thе collaboration opens new doors for joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and the development of interactive educational practices that use art as a bridge between cultures and communities.

“The EMAGINE project has not only enriched our professional experience — it has opened new horizons for Muzeiko’s work. We are confident that what we have learned will inspire our future programmes and help more children, parents and teachers discover the joy of learning through art.” (Iya Petkova, Director of Muzeiko)

A central focus of the project was exploring creative workshops and innovative educational formats in collaboration with MUBA. The training combined theory with hands-on practice, encouraging participants to think of art as a tool for social engagement, personal growth and sparking curiosity.

“For our team, this was an extraordinary opportunity to immerse ourselves in a different world of educational practices and to draw inspiration from professionals who see art as a powerful tool for learning and communication. I believe the ideas and skills we’ve gained will help us offer even richer and more creative programmes for our visitors.” (Asya Blagoeva, Project Manager)

Each day, participants explored new approaches and visual techniques. The opening sessions focused on colour, texture, and how different materials and environments can stimulate the senses and imagination. Later sessions introduced creative reuse of industrial waste materials — resources that MUBA transforms into tools for creativity and sustainable thinking. Throughout the practical sessions, our team worked alongside MUBA’s visitors — real audiences of different ages, backgrounds, and educational needs.

“I was deeply inspired by the way MUBA uses art to build emotional and social skills. We saw how visual arts can help foster confidence and encourage sharing within a group. This is something I’m eager to integrate into our own educational workshops at Muzeiko.” (Silvia Terziyska, Educational Expert and Art Programme Coordinator)

Art, we saw, is not just a form of creativity — it’s a bridge across generations, cultures and communities. MUBA’s workshops are designed to encourage joint learning and discovery between children and their parents, helping them find new ways of expressing themselves. This philosophy resonated strongly with our team and is shaping our vision for future Muzeiko programmes.

“What impressed me most at MUBA was seeing how much fun the parents had — they became active co-creators of knowledge for their children. They weren’t just visitors. Every activity was an invitation to act, to experiment. At Muzeiko we share this philosophy, but we are inspired to go even further — to help our grown-up visitors become explorers and creators too.” (Alexandra Dimitrova, Head of the Educational Team)

Muzeiko continuously refreshes its programmes, aiming to engage a wide and diverse audience through innovative activities and techniques inspired by the best international practices. Energised by our experience at MUBA, we are committed to further developing interactive education at Muzeiko, driven by our belief in the power of art to unite and transform.

This project was funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors 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.