Terracotta Stories for Children. An idea that can be brought to life through the direct participation of the younger population in the creation of the story. The story itself begins a long time ago from the time of prehistory (mentioned in the oldest historical sources since the time of Homer and Herodotus) and successfully passes through time, but we stop at the time when the impressive terracotta-clay plates discovered at the archeological site of Vinicko Kale emerged from the skilled hands of it’s masters and left a mark on time. The terracotta icons witness the highly developed knowledge of the Christian faith and its complex symbolism early in the 5th-6th centuries. They are of particular importance because they have placed Vinicko Kale on the world archaeological map and are unique of it’s kind with an inestimable archaeological, artistic and theological value. Our intention is to get closer to the young population, starting from preschool age, up to secondary education, to encourage awareness and importance of cultural heritage. The most powerful and effective way is through the support of young people. Young people are the ones who will make decisions in the future and will have the task of preserving the heritage values. To give young people the opportunity to get to know themselves and their origins better, and in that way they will be able to learn more about others.

Water, clay and flame are the elements that make up terracotta. It is a companion with the first steps of our human civilization. It is indivisible with the brilliance of human thought as application, aesthetics, art. After all, it is involved in our everyday life, it provides us with comforts, practical services and it is actually a great companion in our everyday life. Human talent and invention flows into her creation. With its character and style, it records its own time of creation and is a temporal witness of the chronic story of human existence. The terracotta (ceramic) is a bridge that connects time and people, changes and languages, a way of thinking and yet is a common denominator of aesthetic-artistic and applied service to people from all over the world. Our environment-climate has traditionally abounded with so-called "pottery" workshops. The historical terracotta icons that are the product of water, clay and flame as elements and technology but inspired with spirituality and aesthetics that serve as orientation and message in human civilization. The project aims to educate and raise awareness of the cultural significance of these artifacts through various interactive content such as written, visual, graphic, and audiovisual media. By doing so, the project leaves a lasting mark on our time and brings to life stories that would be a bridge to the future, connecting time and people, languages and the way of thinking. The success of the project will depend on the effective implementation of these interactive media and their ability to captivate the younger generation's attention. Through the "Terracotta stories for children" project, children will have the opportunity to learn about the historical and cultural significance of terracotta icons, as well as the technological and artistic aspects of their creation. The project aims to inspire children's curiosity and creativity, and to promote the development of their cognitive, social and emotional skills. One of the main features of the project is the direct involvement of children in the creation of the story. Children will be invited to participate in workshops where they will learn about terracotta icons and their historical context. They will also have the opportunity to create their own terracotta artifacts and tell their own stories inspired by the terracotta icons. The project will also include the creation of educational materials such as books, coloring books, animations, videos, and games that will present the story of the terracotta icons in an engaging and interactive way. By learning about the history and significance of terracotta icons, children will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of their own cultural identity and the diversity of cultures around the world. The project will be implemented in collaboration with schools, museums, and cultural institutions, as well as with local communities and organizations. It will involve experts in history, art, archaeology, and education who will work together to create a comprehensive and inspiring learning experience for children. One of the main features of the project is the direct involvement of children in the creation of the story. This, in turn, can foster empathy and understanding towards different cultures and beliefs.

The European story of terracotta as a material that dominates artistic and applied meaning is not a new knowledge. It permeates all parts of Europe and all time periods until today. We connect our story: the Macedonian space of Mr. Vinica with the archaic periods of the Mediterranean (Neolithic pottery) Etruscan sacral sculptures of terracotta material, decorated ceramic vases, masterpieces of classical Hellenic culture. All of that has (one) common denominator: "clay, water and flame" with our story, which are the terracotta icons from Vinnytsia Kale. We want to present an opinion about the time connection of their time of creation with the age (moment) of our living. Late Rome, early Byzantium to the present day. Their narrative power carries the program that actually creates the style of the civilization epoch that transparently reflects the spiritual force of our cultural living today. In the story of clay, water and flame, many children's hands and minds are inspired in our workshop. Even though the copies are a time travel in the past and recognition of a great civilizational achievement they come to their own solutions and experience creative joy. The magical creative ceramic wheel spins mystically to this day, tricking human nature into displaying various virtuosity. Our activity and workshop symbolize a time bridge, a cultural light path of young people as a discipline and knowledge that they are creative worlds of European civilization.