Tablecloth Painting Action as an Ice-Breaker
At public intercultural events where people from different countries meet each other the inhibition threshold to get into contact is often quite high, therefore ice-breakers are needed. The tablecloth method is a very good and inexpensive method to break the ice, especially if there is no common language.
All you need is: paper tablecloths, coloured (felt-tip) pens and volunteers: (1) for painting the region/river on the table; (2) for accompanying the event itself. These people should be given quick instructions what could be painted on the tablecloths. During the event, the participants were invited to write or paint something related to this river/region (e.g. their hometown, birthplace, visited towns or regions, memories, symbols, etc.). This way the hosts as well as the participants had an easy way to “break the ice” and to get into contact. As far as our experiences go this method is a sure-fire success as soon as the first one painted something. Nevertheless, an evaluation after the event is recommended. For this, the volunteers, the participants (aka the painter) can be interviewed and the painted tablecloths can be examined.
Pedagogical Information
This simple method can be varied in many different ways and for various target groups. It is low-threshold, and everybody can contribute, even if there is no common language. In case a common language is missing, you can use design and translation helpers.European Dimension
By marking their hometown or places they have visited on the tablecloth, people can discover unknown similarities. These similarities are not only a good way to start conversations, but they can also foster the feeling of togetherness and help discovering the shared heritage.Applied in projects
Intercultural Danube-Bridge-Breakfast
The Danube Bridge Breakfast was a public two-hour event on a bridge crossing the Danube in Ulm/Neu-Ulm. The educational network “The Danube-Networks” hosted this event with the intention to create the opportunity for the Danube neighbors to get to know each other while tasting bread and small regional delights from the Danube countries. In a relaxed environment, the participants were given the possibility to get to know people from different cultures and backgrounds, to see the diversity within unity in Europe, and to get the feeling of what a peaceful European unity means in real life. The event was open to everyone, free of charge and was part of the International Danube Festival in Ulm.a
