iA-rt: Where Art, Artificial Intelligence and Intercultural Dialogue Meet in Paris
From 1 to 9 August 2026, Paris became a meeting point for creativity, technology and intercultural exchange as 30 young people from France, Germany and Armenia came together for iA-rt – Art, Artificial Intelligence & Intercultural Dialogue, the first international youth project organised by Lorelei Youth Centre.
Co-funded by the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ/DFJW), the project brought together young people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds to explore one of the most rapidly changing questions of our time: How can artificial intelligence influence the way we create, communicate and understand one another?
When Art Meets Artificial Intelligence
At the heart of iA-rt was the idea that artificial intelligence should not only be discussed as a technological development, but also explored as a creative and social tool.
Throughout the exchange, participants experimented with AI tools and different artistic approaches, discovering how technology can influence traditional ideas of creativity and artistic expression. Through workshops and hands-on activities, they were encouraged to experiment, create and question the relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence.
The process was not simply about learning how to use new technologies. It was also an opportunity to ask deeper questions: Who is the creator when AI is involved? How does technology change our understanding of art? What are the ethical challenges of AI? And how might artificial intelligence shape the future of creative work and society?
These questions became part of the participants’ creative journey as they developed their own ideas and artworks throughout the project.
Three Countries, One Shared Experience
Intercultural dialogue was another essential part of iA-rt.
Bringing together participants from France, Germany and Armenia created a space where different perspectives, traditions and experiences could meet. Through non-formal education activities, intercultural workshops, language exchange and shared experiences, participants learned not only about one another’s cultures but also about the similarities that connect young people across borders.
The exchange demonstrated that intercultural learning does not happen only through formal presentations. It happens through conversations, collaboration, creativity, laughter, shared challenges and everyday moments.
Participants worked together, explored Paris, exchanged ideas and gradually built friendships and connections that extended beyond national and linguistic boundaries.
Discovering Art and Culture in Paris
Paris itself became an important part of the iA-rt experience.
Alongside the project workshops, participants had the opportunity to discover the city’s artistic, cultural and youth spaces. These visits allowed them to experience different forms of creativity and to connect what they were learning during the project with the wider cultural life of Paris.
One of the highlights was the visit to the Petit Palais, where participants explored works of art and encountered different artistic perspectives. The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of art across different periods and to consider how artistic expression continues to evolve.
The group also visited 59 Rivoli, an independent artistic space with a distinctive creative atmosphere. Discovering artists and their working environment offered participants another perspective on contemporary artistic creation and the many different ways artists can develop, experiment and share their work.
Another important stop was Quartier Jeunes, a space dedicated to young people in Paris. The visit gave participants the opportunity to discover initiatives and opportunities available to young people and to exchange ideas about youth participation, education and community engagement.
Together, these visits added another dimension to iA-rt. Participants were not only learning about artificial intelligence and creating their own artworks; they were also discovering the cultural and social environments in which creativity takes place.
From museums and independent art spaces to youth-oriented spaces, Paris became an extension of the learning environment, providing inspiration, new experiences and opportunities for dialogue.
A Meeting at the Armenian Embassy
One of the special moments of the project was the visit to the Armenian Embassy in Paris, where participants had the opportunity to meet Aram Hakobyan from the Permanent Delegation of Armenia to UNESCO.
The meeting created an inspiring space for discussion about culture, education, international cooperation and the role of young people in shaping the future.
For the participants, it was an opportunity to connect their own experiences within the project to wider questions of international cooperation and cultural dialogue.
The visit also highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for young people to engage directly with institutions and professionals working in international and cultural fields.
From Creative Experiments to a Public Exhibition
After days of workshops, experimentation and artistic creation, the participants had the opportunity to present the results of their work to the public.
The final iA-rt exhibition took place at the Mairie du 10e arrondissement de Paris, providing a meaningful setting for participants to share the artworks they had created throughout the project.
The exhibition represented an important transition: the ideas and experiments developed during the exchange were no longer only part of the group experience, but became something that could be shared with a wider audience.
A special thank you goes to Awa Diaby, Adjointe à la Maire du 10e arrondissement, déléguée à la Jeunesse, au Sport et à la Vie Associative, for supporting our project and providing the City Hall space that made the exhibition possible.
We are also grateful to the entire team of the Mairie du 10e arrondissement for their warm welcome and support throughout the exhibition.
The exhibition was more than a final presentation. It was a celebration of the participants’ creativity, courage to experiment and willingness to explore new forms of artistic expression.
It was also a chance for the public to see what can happen when young people from different countries come together and are given the space to experiment with art and emerging technologies.
The Final Moments
And just like that, iA-rt came to an end.
The final moments of the project were spent together at the beautiful Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, where participants reflected on their journey, shared memories and received their certificates.
The final gathering provided a moment to look back at everything that had happened during the exchange from the first introductions and intercultural activities to the AI workshops, artistic experiments, cultural visits, embassy meeting and final exhibition.
The certificates marked the completion of the project, but they represented much more than participation in a nine-day exchange.
Behind each certificate were days of creativity and learning, new experiences, conversations in different languages, cultural discoveries, challenges overcome together and friendships formed across borders.
For many participants, the project also meant stepping outside their comfort zones, discovering new perspectives and becoming more confident in communicating and creating with people from different backgrounds.
The Beginning of a New Chapter
For Lorelei Youth Centre, iA-rt was much more than a single project. It was the beginning of a new chapter.
As our first international youth project, it demonstrated the value of creating spaces where young people can meet across borders, explore emerging technologies, discover culture and develop their own creative voices.
The support of the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ/DFJW) made it possible to bring this vision to life and create a meaningful international experience for young people from France, Germany and Armenia.
We are deeply grateful to all the participants, partners, institutions, facilitators and supporters who contributed to making iA-rt possible.
The project may have come to an end, but the memories and connections continue.
The friendships created in Paris, the ideas exchanged, the artworks produced and the questions raised about art and artificial intelligence will remain part of the participants’ journeys beyond the project.
iA-rt was a journey where art met artificial intelligence, where cultures met one another, and where young people discovered that creativity can become a powerful bridge between people.
From France, Germany and Armenia to Paris and beyond, this was only the beginning.
