The Austrian NGO Art Mine has been active in the fields of culture and youth in the small town of…

The Austrian NGO Art Mine has been active in the fields of culture and youth in the small town of Trofaiach, Upper Styria, since 2014. On the one hand, Art Mine has organised and co-hosted several Erasmus+ mobilities in Austria and partner countries. For one of their Erasmus+ mobilities, “Youth for Peace”, which brought together teenagers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Austria and Slovenia and focused on the understanding among nations, Art Mine received the Erasmus+ Award (2015) in the category youth and education which was awarded for the first time that year. It has also been involved in youth projects funded by the city of Trofaiach and Land Steiermark, such as its sustainable youth project "From Waste to Art" (2019/2020). As with other projects, this most recent project evolved from the observation of current affairs and topics that play an important role in the lives of young people. “From Waste to Art” incorporates aspects of the recent global environmental movement which started as local activism from the youth. Moreover, the project expands the agenda of the movement with a more educational and artistic touch and encourages the teenagers to search for creative ways of finding solutions and answers to one of the world’s biggest problems. Since its founding in 2014 Art Mine has also frequently organised activities in the field of culture. For one of its main art projects called "See the Big Picture" it asked artists and photographers from all around the globe, both professionals and hobbyists, to share their view on the world and create pictures that depict their unique perspective. Over the last years Art Mine has successfully organised various exhibitions of "See The Big Picture" both in Austria and abroad to promote the idea of art as a messenger for freedom and peace. Until now (10/2020) the collection of StBP includes paintings and photographs from more than 30 countries worldwide. This ongoing project is evidence of how even small NGOs can have a lasting impact on the world through engaging with people on a very personal level. Choosing art as a communication tool is a bold statement for open societies and freedom of expression. Apart from art exhibitions, Art Mine also established a very successful music series called "Tower of Songs" that hosts national and international artists from different genres. The series focuses on artists who often defy the rules of the big labels and the mainstream music industry and may therefore appear as hidden gems to parts of the audience. Due to the big success of the concert series, Art Mine started a partnership with the city of Graz in 2019 to revitalize the "Murinsel". The "Tower of Songs" concerts are now held on two consecutive days in Graz and Trofaiach. In 2019, Art Mine started another cultural project with a particular focus on regional development by revitalizing the old grain mill ‘Simon Mühle’. Putting the historic building back to use – providing cultural treats like readings, exhibitions and concerts – the place soon became one of the most vivid emblems of the city. The mill does not only function as a workplace for the team but also provides an important space for the local community. First, parts of the building can be rented for activities such as yoga, dancing, talks and presentations and second, culture vultures know their way around and visit the many events hosted by the NGO. Art Mine has also put a strong focus on online spaces and promotion. Despite the disadvantaged location in a rural area and the small size of the organisation, Art Mine has managed to stay financially stable, expand its network and find creative ways to promote both youth work, art and culture. Doing so, the organisation grew out to be an important pillar of the local community and is still developing new concepts and projects for the future. To keep up this work and make living in a rural area worthwhile, Art Mine can rely on a strong network of volunteers that support t