,,Druskininkai Rytas gymnasium has been taking part in international project " Europ’Art Puzzle" for three years now . The aim of this project is to search for new , unusual and more attractive art teaching and art learning forms and methods. This is the most effective way to work with partners from abroad , to exchange cultural experiences and awareness , to look for differences and compare similarities. Teachers and students from five countries - Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic , France and Spain- take part in this project.

In October we hosted guests from abroad in Druskininkai , and after a few weeks we met at the next project meeting in Grenoble , France.

Druskininkai :

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Echirolles, Grenoble :

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There were two of us who travelled to Grenoble on October 18 , art teacher Virginijus Sutkus, the coordinator of this project, and me Diana Dmitrijeva, the author of this article. We stayed there till October 23. We had a nice and warm week’s stay in families ,where we experienced full care about us. During our stay in Grenoble , which is surrounded by marvellous mountains , we also had a perfect chance to vist the second largest French city Lyon. In Lyon we were fascinated by Baroque buildings, modern architecture and the exhibition on urgent global problems. While in Grenoble we had an interesting visit to Marie Curie Lyceum , which is attractive by its form as a building, by its great spaces and natural corners. I had a chance to take part in art lessons there , and was excited by seeing high-quality lessons, friendly relations between teachers and students and students’ active participation in learning process . The library in the Lyceum can boast of rich collection of art publications.

Besides , we visited Grenoble Museum , the biggest museum in France , with its great expositions and a variety of original art works. I have always known that France is the cradle of art , but I have never thought French people care so much about art. You can hardly find a man , though he has nothing to do with art in his profession, who is not interested in cultural life. You can meet crowds of people at exhibitions, concerts or festivals. Young people are especially active. You can feel artistic spirit everywhere. You can see stained glass, photos, mosaiic, pictures, art publications in museums, art galleries, cafes and even doctors’ offices. Currently students , who are in the project ,in all five countries are working on the topic " Meetings’. The best works wil be exhibited in Spain in March, 2009. There will be held the final project meeting , where delegation of teachers and students from our gymnasium will take part , too.’’

Diana Dmitrijeva