Innovation Fund spotlight: ImproOn

Despite their experience and contribution, many older adults feel invisible in today’s society. Yet, they are not alone with this experience. Teenagers, too, express a similar feeling of often being undervalued and misunderstood. Perhaps the gap between these generations is not as wide as we think. In 2023, this insight sparked an innovative idea in Krakow: Could young people and older adults find common ground through creativity, laughter and shared play? This question motivated healthcare clowns from RED NOSES Poland to create an artistic initiative. With the support of the RED NOSES International Innovation Fund, they launched an intergenerational project rooted in improvisational theatre.

Across generations

ImproOn set out with the mission to bring older adults and teenagers together through the spontaneous art of improvisational theatre. At its heart was the aim of creating a space for genuine mutual understanding. Michał Iwanicki, one of the project’s initiators from RED NOSES Poland, sums up the project:

‘Connection, bonds, acceptance. These are the three words I would use to describe it. ImproOn was a project where two different worlds met and built a bridge that hadn’t existed before. In this meeting, bonds were created, and shared work and conversations became a space of genuine acceptance, regardless of age or life experience.’

A challenging beginning

Turning the concept into reality required people who were willing to take part. So the first steps were taken to bring ImproOn to life: posters, leaflets, and online campaigns invited young people and older citizens from Nowa Huta, a district in Krakow, to take part in free improvisation workshops. Michał and his colleagues visited schools, contacted local media and spread the word. However, the outcome was not as they had expected. Despite the outreach, not a single young person signed up. Nevertheless, the team remained determined to move forward.

Training opportunities

While searching for participants, Michał and his colleague Marian ‘Janek’ Janusz were also investing in their own development through the ‘School of Trainers’ programme at Wszechnica Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego. They deepened their skills in facilitation and artistic leadership—tools that would later prove invaluable when the project finally found its participants.

A breakthrough at Christmas

The turning point came at a Christmas Eve community dinner. During a conversation, Michał learned that the residents of a care home might welcome the opportunity to join. On the very same day, he reached out to a youth theatre instructor, whose group of teenagers was already exploring the theme of aging. Suddenly, the missing pieces fell into place and three institutions came together.

Connection through improvisation

When the workshops began, the atmosphere in the room slowly shifted from nervousness to interest. Michał remembers these moments:

‘Before the very first meeting, I felt growing excitement—a mixture of anticipation and curiosity about what might happen when these two worlds would finally sit down together. I was moved when I saw the first conversations begin, when shy glances slowly turned into smiles and real interest.’

More than play

In over 18 sessions, the groups explored topics such as trust, spontaneity, relationships and emotions through improvisational games and exercises. These were not simply theatre activities, they became moments of deep human connection. 

‘What touched me most was that by the end of the project, the encounters had taken on a life of their own,’ Michał recalls. ‘The bonds and conversations no longer belonged to the workshops—they were no longer “an exercise” but simply a human need. Seniors and teenagers were meeting not because the project asked them to, but because they genuinely wanted to share their time and stories with each other.’

The residents of the care home and the teenagers quickly discovered that improvisational theatre was more than play. It became an exercise in acting without preparation, simply drawing on one’s resources, like knowledge, experience and intuition, to respond with confidence in any situation.

Connections

The transformation created by the project exceeded all expectations. At the planning stage, the hope was simply to establish a link between older citizens—often struggling with loneliness—and young people who frequently feel unheard by adults. In practice, the outcome went much further. Genuine relationships emerged and a true intergenerational bridge was built. Both groups revealed a deep longing for connection, conversation and shared community, which the project was able to fulfil.

Months after the workshops ended, Michał ran into one of the participants:

‘Mrs. Teresa warmly recalled the project. She remembered telling Hania, a 16-year-old, about her passion for sailing. At the end of the project, Hania gave her a small handmade paper sailboat. This simple gift moved her deeply – it showed that her story had been heard, remembered, and cherished.’

Lasting impact

The effects of ImproOn extended beyond the workshops themselves. ImproOn bridged a generational gap, fostered empathy and strengthened community ties. 

Looking to the future, Michał sees both challenges and possibilities: ‘The most important resource would be financial support, to make such encounters happen regularly. My dream would be to let such groups perform in other nursing homes. In many cities, the residents of different homes know each other, and performing for their peers would be a source of joy and pride. It could also inspire others to join in. In this way, ImproOn could become a spark that ignites connection not only within a single home, but across an entire community of senior residences.’

About the Innovation Fund

This article is the third in a series highlighting projects from the RED NOSES International Innovation Fund. The Innovation Fund is a laboratory to explore shared creative forces in the RED NOSES group. With four calls for creative ideas so far, the Innovation Fund has invited RED NOSES artists since 2021 to develop and share their artistic projects. The most promising initiatives are selected by a council and receive grant support. Emphasis is given to the transferability to other RED NOSES countries, ensuring that the entire RED NOSES community can benefit from the innovation.