From 22 to 28 November 2025, Vienna welcomed 30 young participants from five European countries – Austria, Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia – for the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange “Art and Nature Walks Together.” During one inspiring week, young people came together to explore the relationship between art, nature, and environmental awareness, using creativity as a tool for expression, dialogue, and action.
Hosted in Vienna and coordinated by XsentrikArts, the project created a space where participants could immerse themselves in natural environments, experiment with different artistic forms, and build meaningful intercultural connections. What emerged was a vibrant exchange of ideas, perspectives, and talents – and a powerful reminder of the role young people can play in promoting sustainability through creativity.
A Week Rooted in Nature and Creativity
The group stayed at Jugendgästehaus Brigittenau, which served as the project’s base throughout the week. From there, participants ventured into Vienna’s natural spaces, took part in hands-on workshops, and collaborated on artistic creations inspired by the world around them.
The first active day set the tone for the entire exchange. Participants joined a guided nature walk led by biologist Dr. Florian Etl, who introduced them to the diverse species of plants and birds living in and around the Danube area. Equipped with a telescope, the group observed birdlife up close, including the striking Grey Heron, perched high on the Danube bridge pylons.
Along the way, participants discovered various berries and plants, discussing which were edible, which were poisonous, and what this revealed about the complexity of ecosystems and biodiversity. Leaves, twigs, and other natural materials were gathered as inspiration for future artworks, helping participants connect observation with artistic creation.
Listening to Nature
Another key part of the project focused on sound. Participants went out in smaller groups with recording devices to capture the sounds of nature – birdsong, rustling leaves, flowing water, and the subtle ambient rhythms of the environment. These soundscapes later became the basis for a variety of creative outputs.
Back at the accommodation, participants began developing artistic pieces inspired by what they had seen and heard. Some created visual art, while others explored stop-motion animation, experimental compositions, or sound-based storytelling. The diversity of the works produced highlighted the richness of young people’s creative approaches when given the freedom to experiment.
Giving Nature a Voice Through Film
Filmmaking became one of the most exciting aspects of the youth exchange. Participants explored the idea of how to “animate the inanimate” – in other words, how to give voice, character, and perspective to elements of nature through storytelling.
Working in international groups, they developed concepts, wrote scripts, filmed scenes, and edited short movies. Some chose to tell stories from the perspective of a flower or another natural element, while others focused on the relationship between humans and the environment, or on messages encouraging cleaner and more responsible behaviour.
The filmmaking process quickly turned into a collaborative learning journey, where participants exchanged skills, supported each other, and learned how creativity can be used to communicate environmental values in accessible and engaging ways.
Intercultural Exchange at the Heart of the Project
As in every Erasmus+ youth exchange, intercultural learning played a central role. Beyond the workshops and creative sessions, participants had the chance to experience local traditions and share their own cultures with one another.
The Austrian cultural experience took place in a traditional Viennese Christmas market, where participants explored the festive atmosphere, tasted roasted chestnuts, and discovered a beloved local seasonal tradition.
The following evening, the group hosted an international culture night, where participants from North Macedonia, Turkey, Poland, and Bulgaria presented traditional foods, videos, music, and customs from their countries. Quiz games, dancing, and informal conversations created a warm and joyful atmosphere of exchange.
From Bulgarian roses and Polish pickles to Turkish sarma and North Macedonian sweets, food became a bridge between cultures and a starting point for deeper curiosity, laughter, and friendship.
Inspiration from Lobau Nature Reserve
Despite rainy weather, the group also visited the Lobau Nature Reserve, a protected natural area along the Danube. The conditions may not have been ideal, but the visit became one of the most atmospheric and memorable parts of the week.
Participants sketched, photographed natural patterns, and collected visual inspiration from leaves, branches, and textures found in the landscape. These observations were later used to create stencils for the final collective artwork of the project.
Later that day, mural artist Milena Schwaerzler joined the group and guided participants in transforming their nature-based observations into stencil designs. Excitement built as everyone prepared for the project’s culminating public action.
A Public Mural for Biodiversity
The highlight of the week was the creation of a large public mural on the underpass wall at Brünner Straße ÖBB station. This mural now stands as a lasting visual message about biodiversity, environmental protection, and collective responsibility.
Working in smaller groups and supported by Milena Schwaerzler, participants applied their stencil designs to the wall, gradually transforming a grey urban surface into a vivid celebration of the natural world. Every participant contributed, making the mural a truly collective piece of international youth expression.
The group was honoured to welcome Georg Papai, District Mayor of Floridsdorf, as well as a journalist from the local newspaper, who came to observe the process and meet the young participants. The project also benefited greatly from the support of the Floridsdorf municipality and ÖBB, whose cooperation and openness made the mural possible.
That same evening, participants gathered for a film screening night, where they watched all the short films produced during the exchange. It was a moment of pride, reflection, and celebration – a chance to appreciate just how much had been created in only one week.
