In this presentation we will describe the findings of the pilot project carried out in Portugal under the “AMASS: Acting on the Margins: Arts as Social Sculpture” during 2020 . We will start by an introduction of the context; following the description of the participant group; methodology and actions conducted during the experiment. Theoretical framework: The actions, aiming to construct products designed with the voices of the group, were grounded on relational aesthetics applied to participatory design and activist arts education. Research questions: 1. How can we engage participants in the design of a community arts project? 2. How to increase the social impact of an arts community project? Methodology, methods: We will explain the used strategies to achieve collaboration in the design and conduct of the actions; such as the gift; photo-voice and story telling. Participatory action research, cooperative inquiry, focus group. Data collecting: audio and video records, journals and field notes Data analysis: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Expected outcomes: In the second part, findings will be presented to establish some conclusions reinforcing the contribution of participatory art and design practices and activist arts education methods as a factor to increase well being of disadvantaged groups, providing inclusion strategies and augmenting individual self-esteem through the visibility of artistic products made in collaborative processes.

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