Peacepainting Blog
Read about our recent activities, workshops and exhibitions.
We are happy to announce that a Peacepainting Exhibition can now be found at Rødbanken in Tromsø, Norway. As you pass by the bank's windows, you'll be greeted by a display of Peacepainting artwork created during two recent workshops in Tromsø.
This Peacepainting workshop in Rouen was an inspiring experience that brought together youth from Norway and France through art. It reminds us of the importance of promoting peace and understanding between nations and cultures, and how art can be a powerful tool in achieving this goal. Learn more and watch a video from the event!
Learn about our Peacpeainting workshop at Fellesverket, Bodø held in collaboaration with the Red Cross.
On Tuesday, September 19th, we continued our series of workshops in collaboration with Fellesverket, Red Cross, this time at Fellesverket Sentrum in Oslo.
Read about our workshop at Fellesverket, Tromsø and see paintings created.
On Tuesday, September 21st, we had workshops with youth at Fellesverket in Drammen, Norway. Read more.
The purpose of this workshop was to emphasize dialogue and equality, with a shared commitment to making a positive impact on society, irrespective of political affiliations. Read more and see paintings created.
On September 15, we organized a Peacepainting workshop at Fellesverket in Sandvika, Oslo, a youth project under the Red Cross. Many young people from various countries participated. Learn more and see paintings created.
Peacepainting hosted a painting workshop for future primary school teachers at Nesna Campus, highlighting creative techniques to teach equality and human rights principles in Norwegian schools.
Discover how Peaceainting and the Red Cross have come together in a powerful collaboration, empowering youth at various Fellesverket institutions in Norway.
Discover the recent painting workshop hosted by Peacepainting at Bindal Museum, where locals from Bindal and refugees from Ukraine came together.
In a heartwarming display of creativity and unity, a remarkable Peacepainting workshop was held in an ancient fortress on an island in Amsterdam.
This year, Peacepainting presented a unique exhibition consisting of paintings from all over the globe. Learn more.
Peacepainting was recently invited to Brussels to participate in the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement. Read more.
Read about the significant encounter between Peacepainting and the King and Queen of Norway during their tour in Bindal.
Learn about our vision, the advancements made with the grant, and our commitment to fostering dialogue and positive change.
Discover the impact of Peacepainting's Art Workshops on children's development. NTNU recently published a research report unveiling significant findings that have attracted interest from the social and educational sciences community. Explore how these workshops nurture creativity, confidence, and social skills. Read the report here.
We recently had a workshop with all 2-graders in the municipality of Bindal, Nordland, Norway. Click to see the paintings created.
In collaboration with Harstad Kulturskole, we recently arranged a Peacepainting exhibition at Harstad Kulturhus. The paintings exhibited were made by children who recently came to Norway as refugees, and who have not yet learned Norwegian. The exhibition was opened by the Major of Harstad, Kari-Anne Opsal.
In collaboration with our long-term collaboration partner Avinor, we are happy to announce that we have now opened a new exhibition at Oslo Airport. A large space has been dedicated to the exhibition, and offers a unique experience of equality. Learn more and see a video of the exhibition.
Read about the Peacepainting workshop in Herøy Municipality, fostering creativity, equality, and collaboration. In collaboration with the volunteer center, refugee service, and local kindergartens and supported by Mayor Eldbjørg, this inspiring event showcased artwork created by young participants from Herøy.
Part 2 of our workshop at Galleri NordNorge in collaboration with Harstad kulturskole and Syrart (Syrian art), where we held workshops with children who recently came to Norway.
In collaboration with Harstad kulturskole and Syrart (Syrian art), we held two Peacepainting workshops at Galleri NordNorge in September. Participants were children who have recently come to Norway and are currently attending reception school in Harstad, where many came from Ukraine.
Day 2 of the Peace and Equality in the North workshop with an anonymous group of adults. See paintings created!
As part of the Peace and Equality in the North series that was held in the North of Norway this spring and summer, we held a 2-day workshop with an anonymous group of adults.
The Peacepainting method has proven to be a very successful method for helping to process, express and communicate people’s inner world.
On the 8th of June 2022, we held the second Peacepainting workshops in collaboration with Nordkappmuseet and Bodø2024 in Honningsvåg in the North of Norway.
Peacepainting was invited to have workshops on the annual intercultural festival "Stoppested i Verden" festival for children 6th of April in Hamar, Norway. See paintings created!
Monday 20 June, Alta Museum marked The World Refugee Day with the opening of our Peacepainting Exhibition named Peace and Equality in the North. Learn more and see a video from the exhibition.
A day of sharing stories and experiences at the Alta Museum. A mixed group took part in the Peacepainting workshop; locals who had experienced the burning of Finnmark and the evacuation during the second world war painted together with people from other countries who recently had moved to Alta.
Last week we had Peacepainting workshops in Terråk Skole, sponsored by The Cultural Schoolbag. This was the last out of three workshops we conducted at Terråk Skole in this project.
The Peacepainting method has proven to be a very successful method for helping to process, express and communicate people’s inner world.
Many powerful paintings and poems were created. Read more and see the art created by young Ukrainian refugees aged 6-12 years old.
Today we kicked off the first workshop in a series of three; a project sponsored by The Cultural Schoolbag.
The second workshop in Caen was held this time with adults. It was organized and carried out in cooperation with a French organization named Maison Locale. They were very positive towards using Peacepainting’s method in their work. Click to see paintings with titles created!
As part of a project of developing our presence in France, we held two painting workshops in Normandie. The first workshop was held with six children and was visited by Senator Laurence Dumont and a representative from La Normandie pour la Paix. Read more to see paintings with titles created!
At the end of 2021, the second project was held in Peacepainting Iran. It took place in two small villages located 80km away from Avhaz. In these villages there were no schools, no clean drinking water nor electricity. To get there we rented a boat to cross the Kahrun River.
Read about our long-term partnership with Nordland County Council, (Nordland Fylkeskommune) and the presentation we recently held at the Council.
Read about our workshop in the special town of Rjukan, Tinn municipality on Saturday 15th of January 2022.
We would like to start the New Year by showing paintings that we have recently received form Yekaterinburg in Russia.
On December 16th, the contract between Bodø2024 and Peacepainting was formally signed.
Peacepainting recently had a meeting with Helgeland Regional Council at the premises of The Brønnøysund Register Centre.
During 2021 we have had a project in collaboration with Bodø2024 and Dagsenteret in Bindalseidet, and the result is now being exhibited on various places in Bindal Municipality.
On the 7th of December we conducted painting workshops at Bindalseidet School with 2nd graders aged 6-7 years old.
On the 24th of November, Peacepainting was invited to Leka City Hall in connection with the Peacepainting workshops we held previously at Leka School.
We are very happy to announce that Bindal Kraftlag SA supports our work towards equality by providing financial support to Peacepainting Center AS.
On the 15th-19th of November, a group of five people from Peacepainting traveled to meet our partners, the Portuguese association APPDA Leiria and the Spanish association AA Vigo (Asociación Autismo Vigo) for part three in our InAutism project.
Over the course of two days we had painting workshops with all pupils at Leka Skole in Norway, on the 27th-28th of October. Leka Rådhus has invited Peacepainting to have an exhibition in their premises, and we are looking forward to having a long-term collaboration with them.
A Peacepainting Instructor course was organized in Tromsø 16-17th of October. Two of the participants, Marianne Lovise Strand and Wenche Sørlie, are now in the process of planning Peacepainting workshops in Vesterålen.
On the 23-26th of September, founder Catrine Gangstø and Peacepainting Instructor Johanne Thrana Tindstad travelled to Leiria in Portugal for meetings and workshops related to the InAutism - Fostering Adult Integration project.
In collaboration with Sparebank1 Nord-Norge, an instructor course was organized in Alta 27-30. September.
In collaboration with Kulturskolen i Brønnøy with schools in Vega, Vevelstad and Brønnøy a large Peacepainting exhibition took place in Brønnøysund on the 17th of September.
Paintings created by adolescents are shipped between Norway and Russia for exhibitions and gifts.
Peacepainting workshops were held at Terråk Skole as part of Nordic Peacepainting 2024 and Creative Week.
On the 5th of June, we had a workshop with confirmants of 2021/2022 in Sømna, Norway. It was a beautiful Saturday with many interesting and exciting results.
In collaboration with the Portuguese association APPDA Leiria we will take part in a project called “InAutism - Fostering Adult Integration”.
In 2020 and 2021, Fiona Bauhofer conducted research on the Peacepainting Method and how it contributes to the Social and Emotional Learning Skills. We are now happy to release the results of this preliminary study on the Peacepainting method.
We are very happy to announce that the company Maria Olaisen AS supports our work towards equality by providing financial support to Peacepainting Center AS. We are very grateful for Maria Olaisen As’ generous support, which will not only strengthen and benefit the local community on Helgeland, but the global world as a whole.
A new training course for Peacepainting Instructors was held from the 14.-16.th of May in Oslo. In total 4 new Peacepainting Instructors participated.
As part of two projects, Nordic Peacepainting 2024 and InAutism – Fostering Adult Integration, we conducted workshops with residents at Bindalseidet Day Center. The workshops were held over 2 days, and were the first in a series of workshops that will be held with these two projects.
In close partnership with Bodø 2024, Peacepainting will develop and establish a series of workshops, exhibitions and training courses in a project named Nordic Peacepainting 2024. Together with Terråk Skole and Creative Week, we ran the first series of workshops marking the launch of Nordic Peacepainting 2024.
Peacepainting Russia just held their second workshop of the year at School 200 in Yekaterinburg. The participants were very eager and created wonderful paintings that will travel around the world on exhibitions.
On Tuesday 13 April, Qendra Sociale Murialdo and Italian Civil Service volunteers created a Peacepainting workshop for children in the Mbrostar Roma community.
We are happy to announce that Fiona Bauhofer at Windesheim Honours College, Netherlands is currently doing research on the Peacepainting Method and how it impacts children's personality and resiliency development.
Peacepainting Russia created a workshop for students at School 200, Yeakaterinburg.
Together with Inn på Tunet in at Lilleheil in Bindal, we have created a youth project that involves learning about horses and Peacepainting. Peacepainting is a tool that stimulates introspection and learning, and will help to cement and process the knowledge the participants gather during the horse education sessions.
This initiative was created after our original exchange project with Ekaterinburg was canceled due to Covid-19. Now the participants from Norway and Russia send paintings and Christmas presents to each other in the mail. Once each school receives them, they will create exhibitions in their classrooms. Together with other countries, the exchanged paintings will be exhibited in Ekaterinburg in 2021 in cooperation with UNESCO.
The research group from NTNU led by Hilde Marie Thrana has carried out the first part of a pilot project to research the effects of the Peacepainting method.
This weekend we had a training course for new Peacepainting Instructors in Terråk, Norway.
When the Norwegian state budget was presented in October 2020, it was announced that Peacepainting will continue to receive state aid in 2020.
All children in 1st grade at all schools in Bodø will now have Peacepainting workshops throughout the winter of 2020/2021. In total, there will be approx. 700 6-year-olds participating.
The National Agency in Norway has granted our application to carry out part 2 of our project involving three countries.
During the lockdown, we have been making progress in the work towards building Peacepainting Center.
Part 2 of the Youth Exchange between Spain, Norway and Croatia will take place in Zagreb March 13th-March 21st.
Innovation Norway has invited Peacepainting to attend Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference and Exhibition in March 2020.
Our new Peacepainting representant is planning to set up Peacepainting and conduct workshops in Peru and Italy.
We had workshops at International days at Adult Education in Brønnøysund, February 24th- 27th this year. The participants had recently immigrated to Norway and came from Congo, Syria, Russia and Vietnam.
In an exchange project, Elena will bring 10-12 young participants from Yekaterinburg to Norway during 2020. This will enable them to have healthy exchanges with young participants in Norway, and participate in painting workshops and exhibitions.
Mayors, artists, researchers, innovation Norway, business leaders, architects, consultants in Sør-Helgeland came together for a meeting on how to lift Peacepainting out into the world.
Training course for new Peacepainting Instructors.
This weekend we had an instructor training course for new Peacepainting Instructors in Brønnøysund.
Samfunnsløftet, Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge sponsored Peacepainting with 300 000 NOK.
A multicultural workshop for women of different backgrounds, Herøy, Norway.
Painting workshop with 14-15 year olds in Bindal Municipality, Norway.
Training course for new Peacepainting instructors.
Peacepainting attended an integration conference by the World Wide Friends, (WWF).
Peacepainting paintings take part in joint exhibitions in various parts of the world.
Read about our exchange project with Croatia and Spain.
We are proud Bindalings and very happy to support our local community in the biggest happening of the year, Nordlandsbåtregattaen's 40-year anniversary.
Peacepainting has received 300.000 NOK from Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge towards our project for the Peacepainting Center.
Throughout the years Peacepainting has been featured in documentaries, press reportages and videos around the world.
Peacepainting will in collaboration with Herøy municipality and Frivillighetssentralen arrange a multicultural painting workshop for women in Herøy in the autumn of 2019.
Peacepainting Instructor Tone Toft held Peacepainting workshops for 3. grade students in Herøy Municipality, Norway.
Kjersti Austdal is a visual artist and general manager of Galleri Kladden in Oslo.
In collaboration with Galleri Kladden we organized a workshop at Bolteløkka School in Oslo.
Peacepainting had a workshop with the Kirkens Bymisjon in Tromsø and women who came to Norway as refugees.
Peacepainting took part in the Nordic Thematic Seminar: Health and Wellbeing of Young People held in Helsinki and supported by Erasmus and the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Grethe Stave had Instructors Training Workshop with teachers, supervisors, artists and educators in Kirchdorf, Austria.
Welcome to Raghad Hafar and Katrine Berg-Hansen, new Board Members in Peacepainting.
Grethe Stave is the Representative for Peacepainting Austria.
Peacepainting was doing regular maintenance work at one of our exhibitions at the Brønnøysund Airport when a situation fell into our eyes.
Peacepainting’s founder and CEO Catrine Gangstø was awarded the Honours Award 2018 from Bindal Municipality.
A Peacepainting workshop was held at Helgeland Museum Velfjord together with Kathrine Haugen.
“We need to develop a dialog culture – where curiosity and respect for each other and the ability to see things from other peoples perspective, become normal.”- Steinar Bryn Head of Nansen Dialogue Network
Peacepainting had a workshop with teachers from the Culture School Nordland in Bodø in collaboration with the Norsk Kulturskoleråd.
Peacepainting had workshops at the Galleria Kunstfestival in Mosjøen.
In cooperation with Adult Education, Peacepainting had a week long workshop and exhibitions in the Bamble Municipality City Hall and in AMFI Brotorvet.
In cooperation with the Bindal Church, Peacepainting had a workshop in Bindalseidet School.
Exhibition in the Defense Museum at the Akershus Fortress
Workshop in Mosjøen in collaboration with Vefsn Kulturskole.
This painting is now part of International Peacepainting Exhibitions.
Peacepainting exhibition at the United Nations premises in Geneva.
Peacepainting was invited by Hilde Marie Thrana to present the method in the seminar for childcare at the Childcare Services in Brønnøysund.
This video is a result from workshops in Naryan Mar’s Humanitarian-Social college of V.P. Vyucheyskogo in October 2016 and 2017.
Peacepainting brought a painting named The Devil May Cry - Even My Enemies Have Feelings, by a boy from Syria to Brussels.
Peacepainting workshops in The Humanitarian-Social College of V.P.Vyucheyskogo (Naryan-Mar) in October 2016 and Ekaterinburg at school No. 200 in October 2017.
In part two of our project to lift minorities and create friendship across borders, we invited our partners from the Nenets culture in Russia to visit Norway and experience South Sámi culture.
We want to express our gratitude for Helgeland Sparebank's gift this autumn. They now give Peacepainting NOK 200,000 in support of the foundation's activities for 2016 and 2017.
At the end of September, Catrine Gangstø and Aldona Wawrzyniak travel to Tarnow near Krakow to plan a new youth exchange program.
We had a painting workshop at a middle school in Alverca de Ribatejo. At this particular school, there were many children from Africa who had come as refugees.
In September, we had a working meeting with partner "Avinor". We now have a good dialogue, and have agreed on a path for further cooperation.
The organization "We are all Citizens"in Greece has contacted Peacepainting, and wants to start a collaborative project in 2015.
Sponsored by The Norwegian Barents Secretariat we created a youth exchange to build good relations with our neighbors and expand perspectives across borders. We invited our partners at an agricultural high school in Naryan-Mar, Russia to come to Bindal, Norway.
The project in Verkhnetulomsky and Tuloma was part of a larger three-part Peacepainting project to promote the Skolt Sámi minorities in Russia, Finland and Norway.
Naryan-Mar was Peacepainting’s second contact place in Russia, and cooperation with an agricultural high school in we created a wonderful project sponsored by The Norwegian Barents Secretariat.
To continue our great partnership with School 2010, we travelled back and had new painting workshops with different groups of children from the school.
In cooperation with the Tunisian art organization Éspace des Arts and the Russian Embassy in Oslo, Norway, Peacepainting and Éspace des Arts travelled together to Moscow to hold painting workshops at School 2010.
Peacepainting started a collaboration with Namdalshagen AS in collaboration with Per Arne Sørli.