Playing our way: Participation, recognition and creativity as resources for growing up across cultures

Abstract

Participating in a welcoming and creative community may mean the world to some. The musical project Kaleidoscope (Fargespill) gives children with minority backgrounds an arena for meaning-making, identity development and agency. In a time of extensive migration, many young people today grow up across cultures. Often treated as outsiders, it makes a difference to be invited to contribute. This study explores what participation in creative communities means to them. It combines cultural and community psychology in a contextual take on salutogenesis. In a mixed methods design, data were collected through fieldwork, interviews and a survey, involving 200 young Kaleidoscope participants. The dissertation sheds light on the joys and challenges of growing up across cultural categories. A participatory creative community can provide recognition and freedom of movement. Different approaches to diversity are discussed, along with how young people navigate challenges together. Seip underlines the perks of playfulness, and ways to fight stereotyping with fun and friends. Knowledge about growing up across cultural categories is needed for psychology to take contemporary diversity seriously.