Project Name: Waste to Art (WatA)

Project Coordinator (Applicant):

• Ankara University, Turkey

TR Partner:

• International Association of Educators and Special Education Teachers (UBED)

EU Partners:

• Slovenia - Univerza v Mariboru
• Latvia – Latvijas Universitate
• Italy - Universita Telematica Internazionale – UNINETTUNO

Presently, current estimates indicate that total global consumption exceeds the planet's regenerative capacity by 50% (WWF, 2014). The world is currently in a situation where natural resources are rapidly depleted and the recovery of depleted resources becomes very difficult. This situation, which endangers the lives of humans and other living things, has led people to propose solutions. In this context, the concept of 'environmental sustainability' is being tried to be disseminated. The sustainability of these resources can only be achieved through the efficient use of limited natural resources.

The only problem caused by fast consumption is not only the depletion of natural resources but also causes a huge amount of waste to emerge. To find a solution to this emerging waste problem, the European Union Commission prepared a “Waste Framework Directive” in 2008. The EU Commission has determined seven top principles of waste management: These are prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and safe disposal. It was emphasized that “waste prevention” is the preferred option in the waste management hierarchy put forward by the European Commission, this option occupies the largest area in the waste hierarchy.

According to the European Environment Agency, about 10% of the total waste generated in Europe consists of what is known as 'urban waste'; these are mostly household wastes, and a lesser part of them originate in public buildings such as small businesses, schools, and hospitals. A significant portion of paper and cardboard waste, which constitutes 32% of school waste, is generated by art activities held in schools. The WatA Project will be ensured the use of waste materials in art events becomes widespread, so could be possible to reuse school waste up to 55%, and also the need for material production for art activities will be reduced. With the decrease in the production need, the amount of natural resources used for material production will also decrease and will be contributed to "waste prevention".

Through the WatA project disadvantaged students who cannot access the activity materials due to economic and geographical reasons will be prevented from being deprived of their right to art education. Waste materials are easily accessible and bring almost no financial burden to students. Through WatA project will ensure the widespread use of waste materials in in-class art activities hence the financial burden on disadvantaged students and their families will be reduced. The WatA project will set a unique example with outputs such as education modules, teacher's handbook, academic research, and article, for future projects and educational studies in establishing an educational approach on the axis of environmental sustainability.

As seen the WatA project objectives are covering priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme "Environment and fight against climate change", "Inclusion and Diversity", and "Digital Transformation".

Project Purpose: To reduce the use of natural resources and the amount of waste released to nature for the sustainability of the environment and natural resources.

Project Goals:

• Our project aims to ensure that the waste materials obtained from schools and students' homes are used in artistic activity at art lessons, to save resources to be used for the production of new materials and to reduce the wastes generated due to art activities in classes.
• Another project goal is to increase the knowledge and skills of teachers about the use of waste materials in artistic activities.
• Our project also aims to increase the active participation and interest of disadvantaged students who cannot reach the necessary materials for artistic activity classes due to financial inadequacy or geographical factors and therefore cannot actively participate in artistic activity classes.

Project Overview:

Art education trains the creative power and potential of the individual and organizes aesthetic thought and consciousness. Art enables the individual to adjust his social relations, cooperate and help each other, choose and express the truth, enjoy the joy of starting and finishing a job, and be productive. But besides all its positive aspects, artistic activities cause the highest waste production in schools due to the intensive use of materials such as paper, cardboard, paint, etc. In addition, extremely large consumption of natural resources occurs for the production of materials such as paper, cardboard, paint, and adhesive used in these activities, and a significant amount of industrial waste is generated during the production of these materials.

Our project aims to reduce the use of traditional materials by encouraging the use of waste materials in art activities in schools, thus protecting natural resources and reducing the amount of waste released into nature by transforming waste material into aesthetic value. The use of traditional materials in art activities has various restrictive qualities for both teachers and students, most of the time, students and teachers have to do the same things over and over again, which causes the students to lose their interest in art lessons. The use of waste materials requires a different field of creativity since waste materials are not as continuous as traditional materials and because of the necessity of using new and different materials in every work.

Thanks to the use of different waste materials, teachers will be able to abandon routinized traditional teaching methods and develop innovative teaching methods for students with the endless possibilities brought by this new approach. Students, on the other hand, will be able to develop their creativity and aesthetic awareness by looking for creative and innovative ways of using the waste they see around them, instead of seeing them as just a waste.

Art education plays a very important role in the development of individuals, as stated at the beginning, therefore every individual should have equal access to arts education. However, it is observed that disadvantaged students, who cannot reach the necessary materials for art activities due to financial inadequacy or geographical factors, are deprived of this right in the lessons where activities based on visual arts are held. Unlike traditional activity materials, waste materials are easily accessible for disadvantaged students as they bring almost no financial burden and can be found in almost every geographical condition. Through the impact of the project, the widespread use of waste materials in in-class art activities will make an important contribution to reducing the problem of accessing the activity materials that hinder the participation of disadvantaged students.

We want to achieve by implementing this project;

• To reduce the use of natural resources and the amount of waste released to nature for environmental sustainability,
• To reduce the amount of waste generated in the lessons where art activities are held,
• To ensure the protection of natural resources used for the production of artistic activity materials,
• To ensure the active participation of disadvantaged students who cannot reach the necessary materials for artistic activity classes.

Target Group of Our Project:

All teachers who teach in the artistic activity classes (academicians, art teachers, special education teachers, elementary school teachers, preschool teachers, and university students who are studying in these fields, etc.). Each participant will plan and conduct an activity in their own country. Activity details will be agreed upon with the participants.

Project Start Date: 01/01/2024

Project total Duration: 24 Months